Life Science Encyclopedia

The Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine is part of the Health Professions Division of the university. The Health Professions Division, with a student body of more than 2,000, is home to Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first one in the southeastern U.S., and it grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. EMS Education and Training, Master of Science in Medical Informatics, and Masters of Public Health are also offered.

History

The Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine (SECOM) was established in 1979 in North Miami Beach, Florida by Morton Terry, D.O. Because of SECOM's success, a College of Pharmacy was added in 1986 and a College of Optometry in 1988, thus creating the Southeastern University of Health Sciences. In 1994, Southeastern University merged with Nova University, creating Nova Southeastern University and giving the College of Osteopathic Medicine a new home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Curriculum

Year 1: Basic Sciences

• Biochemistry
• Gross Anatomy
• Neuroanatomy
• Histology
• Physiology
• Microbiology
• Clinical Practicum
• Osteopathic Principles & Practice
• Radiology
• Public Health & Epidemiology
• Ethnocultural Medicine
• Basic Life Support

Year 2: Systems-Based Learning

• Principles of Pathology
• Principles of Pharmacology
• Principles of Clinical Medicine
• Hematopoietic & Lymphoreticular System
• Respiratory System
• Cardiovascular System
• Gastrointestinal System
• Endocrine System
• Women's Health
• Integumentary System
• Renal/Urinary System
• Musculoskeletal System
• Nervous System
• Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine
• Osteopathic Principles & Practice
• Medical Jurisprudence
• Medical Ethics
• HIV Seminar
• End-of-Life Seminar
• Rural Medicine
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support

Year 3: Core Clinical Rotations

• Family Medicine (2 months)
• Geriatrics (1 month)
• Pediatrics (2 months)
• Internal Medicine (3 months)
• Surgery (2 months)
• Obstetrics and Gynecology (1 month)
• Psychiatry (1 month)

Year 4

• Emergency Medicine (1 month)
• Rural/Underserved rotation (2 months)
• Rural selective (1 month)
• Electives (5 months)

Clinical training sites

During years 3 and 4, students leave NSU-COM's Davie campus to begin clinical rotations. Major affiliated training hospitals include:

• Broward General Medical Center (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
• Memorial Regional Medical Center (Hollywood, Florida)
• Mount Sinai Medical Center (Miami Beach, Florida)
• Miami Children's Hospital (Miami, Florida)
• South Florida State Hospital (Pembroke Pines, Florida)
• Palmetto General Hospital (Hialeah, Florida)
• Palm Beaches Hospital Consortium (West Palm Beach, Florida)
• Suncoast Hospital (Largo, Florida)
• Florida Hospital East Orlando (Orlando, Florida)

Post-graduate placement

Although NSU-COM has traditionally produced many family medicine physicians, graduates go on to pursue careers in all specialties of medicine. NSU-COM maintains affiliated residency programs in: family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, preventative medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology, and dermatology. Fellowship programs are offered in: sports medicine, geriatrics, rheumatology, cardiology, forensic pathology, and gynecological oncology.