1. As a result of the Internship Restructuring, what Option did my Specialty Affiliate choose?

2. How will the internship restructuring affect my training?

3. Why should I take an AOA-approved 1st year of training?

4. Why should I take an AOA-approved residency?

5. I was unable to find an osteopathic internship or residency program. Is there a resource to help me scramble into a program?

6. I participated in osteopathic training. What process do I follow to have my osteopathic training approved as complete?

7. I participated in allopathic training. What process do I follow to have my allopathic training recognized by the AOA?

8. What is an OPTI?

9. I have a complaint regarding my program that I would like to address. What is the appropriate grievance policy?

10. How long will I be in training for my specialty?
 

1. As a result of the Internship Restructuring, what Option did my Specialty College Affiliate choose?

* Specialty will become Option 2 effective July 1, 2010.  Matching successfully assures entry into both the preliminary year and the subsequent 2nd year of residency training. 

2. How will the internship restructuring affect my training?
Effective July 2008, the AOA will observe a new policy for osteopathic OGME-1 training year education. An AOA-approved 1st Year Training has always been, and continues to be, a requirement for granting approval of osteopathic postdoctoral residency training.

This new restructuring does not eliminate that requirement; however, the restructuring will offer three separate options as choices of OGME-1 approved training, while focusing on the student's ultimate goal of residency training. Discussions by the AOA with licensing officials in those five states with osteopathic licensing boards do not reveal any issue/concern regarding the restructured internship. However, an AOA-approved first year training program is still required for licensure.

3. Why should I take an AOA-approved 1st year of training?
There are only two types of complete physicians in the United States who enjoy unlimited license to practice medicine and surgery in all its branches: osteopathic physicians (DOs) and allopathic physicians (MDs). When compared with allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine includes both philosophic and therapeutic augmentations, and for this reason remains a healthcare profession that is both parallel to, but also distinctive from, that of the allopathic medical profession. For this reason, parallel but distinctive education systems exist in both of these professions.

An AOA-approved traditional rotating internship provides balanced, well-rounded generalist education for the osteopathic physician. Exposure is provided to all areas of primary care medicine and other specialties, with at least one (1) month required in: family practice, general internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and female reproductive medicine.

In addition there are areas of professional activity, which require having completed an AOA-approved first year of training. Osteopathic physicians are required to have completed an AOA-approved first year of training in order to be licensed in Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Completion of an AOA-approved first year of training is required for entrance into the AOA board eligibility and certification process. AOA board certification is required to become a Director of Medical Education (DME) or a Program Director in AOA-approved postdoctoral programs.

All AOA-approved programs are offered under the leadership of qualified osteopathic physician educators who are dedicated to the education of complete physicians who will also be well-grounded in osteopathic principles and practices and osteopathic manipulative therapy.

4. Why should I take an AOA-approved residency?
The AOA-approved residency is designed to build upon the osteopathic physician's Predoctoral education. Therefore, it is also designed to build upon the education in uniquely osteopathic disciplines of osteopathic principles and practices and osteopathic manipulative therapy. The AOA-approved residencies are offered under the leadership of qualified osteopathic physician educators who are dedicated to education of osteopathic physicians who will be well-grounded in osteopathic principles and practices and osteopathic manipulative therapy.

5. I was unable to find an osteopathic internship or residency program. Is there a resource to help me scramble into a program?
Yes! Opportunities offers comprehensive information on current osteopathic post-doctoral training programs. You can use the following webinar as a guide on how to use Opportunities to search for current post-doctoral training programs.

Opportunities Program Search (Windows Media)

6. I participated in osteopathic training. What process do I follow to have my osteopathic training approved as complete? 
Osteopathic programs notify the AOA of OGME-1 completion via TIVRA. In order to have your osteopathic residency approved as complete, a trainee should work in conjunction with the program director to make sure he/she has met the specialty affiliate requirements. For further information about specialty specific requirements, please contact your respective specialty affiliate directly.

You may also want to refer to the following webinar and flowchart for additional guidance.

If you participated in an osteopathic internship and residency program, please view this information
Osteo Internship & Residency Flowchart (PDF, 340kb)
Osteo Internship & Residency Webinar (Windows Media)

7. I participated in allopathic training. What process do I follow to have my allopathic training recognized by the AOA?
If you are currently in an allopathic postdoctoral training program, there is a 2-step process to follow in order to get your training approved by the AOA.

Step 1 You must have your "internship" year approved. Fill out the Application for Approval of Allopathic Training as an AOA Approved-Internship (Resolution 42).

or

If you participated in a Federal Military internship, you must fill out the Application for Approval of Federal/Military Internship training.

Step 2 After your internship is approved, you must have the remainder of your residency approved. Fill out the Application for Registration and Approval of ACGME or Federal Residency Training.

You may also want to refer to the following webinars and flowcharts for additional guidance.

If you participated in an osteopathic internship before entering into a military or ACGME residency program, please view this information
Osteo Internship and Allo Residency Flowchart (PDF, 351kb)
Osteo Internship and Allo Residency Webinar (Windows Media)

If you participated in military internship training and subsequently entered into a military or ACGME residency program, please view this information
Military Internship and Allo Residency Flowchart (PDF, 354kb)
Military Internship and Allo Residency Webinar (Windows Media)

If you participated in an allopathic internship prior to July 1, 2008 and subsequently entered into a military or ACGME residency program, please view this information
Allo Internship and Residency Prior to July 1, 2008 Flowchart (PDF, 366kb)
Allo Internship and Residency Prior to July 1, 2008 Webinar (Windows Media)

If you participated in an allopathic internship on or after July 1, 2008 and subsequently will enter into a military or ACGME residency program, please view this information
Allo Internship and Residency On or After July 1, 2008 Flowchart (PDF, 370kb)
Allo Internship and Residency On or After July 1, 2008 Webinar (Windows Media)

8. What is an OPTI?
The American Osteopathic Association established the Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institutions (OPTI) in 1995. Each OPTI is a community-based training consortium comprised of at least one college of osteopathic medicine and at least one hospital. Get additional OPTI information or find your OPTI representative.

9. I have a complaint regarding my program that I would like to address. What is the appropriate grievance policy?
We recommend you speak to your OPTI representative. If you would like to submit a formal complaint to the AOA, please send a signed letter to the following address:

Division of Postdoctoral Training
Department of Education
American Osteopathic Association
142 E. Ontario St.
Chicago, IL 60611

10. How long will I be in training for my specialty?
Each specialty requires varying lengths of training. The OGME Years per Specialty page lists the minimum required numbers of years per specialty.