Students & Residents

Becoming a DO

Osteopathic physicians provide complete medical care to millions of people throughout the United States. All D.O.s are trained in family practice and many receive additional training in specialty areas such as psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics, surgery, ophthalmology and cardiology.

For a catalog of requirements and information, contact any of the osteopathic medical schools listed on the website.

For more information contact the Student Osteopathic Medical Association.

Student & Resident Poster Session

TOMA is pleased to announce a call for abstract submissions for our Annual Scientific Poster presentation and competition.

The poster presentation and competition will be held during the
128th Annual Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association Convention,
which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee on May 1-3, 2026.

Residents and medical students are encouraged to submit one poster regarding basic or clinical research or case reports. Posters will be displayed in the exhibit hall on Saturday, May 2. A panel of judges will select the top three posters based on predefined criteria.

Original case reports and research abstracts are welcome, exceptional posters and presenters will be awarded following the event.

Important Dates:
February 28, 5 pm Central Time Deadline for Abstract Submissions
March 15 Notifications of Accepted Abstracts
March 31, 5 pm Central Time Deadline to Submit Video of Poster Presentation
May 2 In-Person Poster Presentations

To submit a poster abstract, please complete this online registration form no later than February 28 at 5 pm CT.

There is no registration fee for poster presenters to attend TOMA’s Convention.

We look forward to reviewing your submissions and to a spirited competition!

Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

thinking about school?

Tennessee

Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at Harrogate – LMU-DCOM
Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine – Knoxville Campus – LMU-DCOM Knoxville
Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine — BUCOM

Alabama

Arizona

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona – ATSU
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine – AZCOM

Arkansas

NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University Jonesboro – NYITCOM Arkansas
Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine – ARCOM

California

Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine – TUCOM
Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific – Western U/COMP
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific – WU/COMP

Colorado

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine – RVUCOM

Florida

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine – NSU-COM
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Bradenton Campus LECOM-Bradenton
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine – NSU-COM

Georgia

Illinois

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Midwestern University – CCOM

Idaho

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine – ICOM

Indiana

Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine – MU-COM

Iowa

Osteopathic Medical Center College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery – Des Moines University

Kansas

Kentucky

University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine UP-KYCOM

Louisiana

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Louisiana Campus – VCOM-LA

Maine

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine – UNECOM

Michigan

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine – MSU-COM

Mississippi

William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine – WCUCOM

Missouri

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine ATSU-KCOM

Montana

Nevada

Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine – TUNCOM

New Jersey

Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine – RowanSOM

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine – OSUCOM

Oregon

Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest – WU/COMP-NW

Pennsylvania

Lake Erie College of Erie, PA – LECOM
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – PCOM

South Carolina

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus VCOM-CC

Texas

University of North Texas Health Sciences Center at Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine – UNTHSCFW/TCOM
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine – SHSUCOM
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine – UIWSOM

Utah

Virginia

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – VCOM
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine – LUCOM

Washington

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine – PNWU-COM

West Virginia

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine – WVSOM

The Osteopathic Curriculum

The first two years of the osteopathic medical curriculum focus on basic sciences. The third and fourth years emphasize clinical work, with much of the teaching in community hospitals, major medical centers and doctors’ offices. During the clinical years, students study general medicine and are involved in research. They rotate through urban, suburban and rural settings, gaining exposure to all areas of medicine. Osteopathic principles and practices, which emphasize the relationship between body systems, are integrated into the four-year curriculum. Students learn osteopathic manipulative treatment for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.