1. Osteopathic Outreach Program: Pre-SOMA Presented by SOMA

2. Definition of a Physician The physician diagnoses, prescribes medication for, and otherwise treats diseases and disorders of the human body A physician may also perform surgery and often specializes in one aspect of medical care and treatment Physicians hold either a doctor of medicine (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree

3. Medicine - Allopathy A system of therapeutics in which diseases are treated by producing a condition incomparable with or antagonistic to the condition to be cured or alleviated

4. Medicine - Chiropractic A system of therapeutics based upon the claim that disease is caused by abnormal function of the nervous system It attempts to restore normal function of the nervous system by manipulation and treatment of the structures of the human body, especially those of the spinal column

5. Medicine - Osteopathy A system of therapy based on the theory that the body is capable of making its own remedies against disease and other toxic conditions when it has normal structural relationship, favorable environmental conditions, and adequate nutrition It utilizes generally accepted physical, medicinal, and surgical methods of diagnosis and therapy, while placing chief emphasis on the importance of normal body mechanics and manipulative methods of detecting and correcting faulty structure

6. The Four Tenets of Osteopathy The body is a unit: mind, body, and spirit The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the inter-relationship of structure and function

7. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury With OMT, osteopathic physicians may move the muscles and joints Techniques include: – Stretching – Gentle Pressure – Resistance

8. History of Osteopathic Medicine Osteopathic medicine is a unique form of American medical care that was developed in 1874 by frontier doctor Andrew Taylor Still Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the effectiveness of 19 th century medicine He believed that many of the medications of his day were useless or even harmful Dr. Still was one of the first in his time to study the attributes of good health so that he could better understand the process of disease

9. History of Osteopathic Medicine In response, Dr. Still founded a philosophy of medicine based on ideas that date back to Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine The philosophy focuses on the unity of all body parts He identified the musculoskeletal system as a key element of health He recognized the body’s ability to heal itself and stressed preventive medicine, eating properly, and keeping fit

10. Facts about D.O.’s Currently, 63,120 D.O.’s practice in the U.S. (estimated 100,000 by the year 2020) Over half of all D.O.’s practice in primary care areas of family practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN, and pediatrics D.O.’s represent 7% of the total U.S. physician population and 10% of all U.S. military physicians Each year, 100 million patient visits are made to D.O.’s

11. D.O.’s and M.D.’s are Alike… Four-year undergraduate degree Complete the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) Four years of education at an accredited medical college Complete/Pass the three-step medical board examinations Complete a residency program (length depends on specialty) Complete/Pass state licensing examinations

12. American Osteopathic Association The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is a member association representing more than 60,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.’s) The AOA serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.’s and is the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical colleges and health care facilities The AOA’s mission is to advance the philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine by promoting excellence in education, research, and the delivery of quality, cost-effective healthcare within a distinctive, unified profession

13. Student Osteopathic Medical Association The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) was founded in 1970 as a nonprofit association with the objectives to improve the quality of healthcare delivery, to educate osteopathic medical students, to espouse the ideals of osteopathic medicine, and to establish lines of communication among health care professionals

14. Student Osteopathic Medical Association SOMA is recognized the by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) as the national professional society of osteopathic medical students Membership in SOMA offers students a legitimate voice in shaping the future of their chosen profession Additionally, it serves as a means of communication among the students of all 30 colleges of osteopathic medicine All students of osteopathic medicine are eligible for membership in SOMA

15. Student Osteopathic Medical Association With over 6,000 members, SOMA is the largest osteopathic medical student organization in the world In addition to providing valuable programs and benefits, SOMA publishes an on-line newsletter, the Student DO Newsletter, which is available free of charge to all its members Volunteer osteopathic medical students run both local and national SOMA organizations

16. Pre-SOMA Pre-SOMA is the undergraduate division of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association The goals are to promote and inform the public about osteopathic medical education as well as to increase the number of applicants to osteopathic medical schools Members of Pre-SOMA will have access to the SOMA newsletter, have the opportunity to be a registered user on our website, and are invited to attend our National SOMA conventions

17. Pre-SOMA Membership is offered on a one-year basis or you can choose to join for your entire undergraduate career Please visit www.studentdo.com

18. Contacts Robyn Young, National Pre-SOMA Director: presoma@studentdo.com