The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) is a professional degree which requires four years of professional study. Our innovative curriculum is designed to fulfill our mission of training primary care physicians. Its design is based on successful academic models, carefully developed and integrated.
The unique curriculum provides academic and clinical training, which prepares students for the "real world" of medicine. It will make you more competitive for postdoctoral training positions and more attractive to those interviewing candidates for those positions.
A notable aspect of our clinical training program is a three-month clinical rotation in a rural setting where many residents have little access to health care. You will learn to treat various cultural and ethnic groups whose lifestyles and attitudes toward health care differ from those you will see in more traditional training sites. It is an enriching educational experience.
The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine offers advanced placement to incoming students with degrees in disciplines specifically related to courses or subject areas required in the curriculum. Students who successfully pass a comprehensive, discipline-based examination will receive advanced placement and are given credit equivalent to the course(s) involved on their transcripts. The time made available in a student's academic pursuits by deferring such course(s) will allow students to enroll in an Honor Elective in Academic Scholarship and Research. This course provides an opportunity to work with a faculty adviser and engage in academic scholarly activity in an area of interest.
Electives may be taken in four-week or two-week increments. No more than four two-week electives may betaken in the fourth year of study.