Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

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The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is one of the oldest and largest osteopathic medical schools. Founded in 1899, PCOM is home to over 1000 medical students as well as graduate-level students in several other fields of health care. One of the largest medical schools in the United States, PCOM is noted for being the largest civilian producer of US military physicians. The college is also known for producing primary care physicians. In 2005, PCOM opened a branch campus in Atlanta, Georgia.

History

  The Philadelphia College and Infirmary of Osteopathy (PCIO) was founded on January 24, 1899 by the Rev. Mason W. Pressly, D.O., and Oscar John Snyder, D.O in the Stephen Girard Building at 21 S. 12th Street. In September 1899 the first PCIO degree was awarded to a transfer student; the first PCIO "class," comprising one woman and one MD, graduated in February 1900. PCIO was officially renamed to Philadelphia College of Osteopathy (PCO) in May of 1921. PCO became the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in May of 1967. PCOM relocated to its current campus along City Avenue in Philadelphia in 1973 with the openning of Evans Hall. In 1979, PCOM acquired the adjacent office building and later named it Rowland Hall in honor of PCOM's 4th President. From 1995-1999, Evans Hall expanded to include a modern OMM Lab, more classrooms, a new cafeteria, and the Office of Admission.

In 1993, PCOM started the graduate program in biomedical science, offering graduate certificates and Master of Science degrees. The Doctor of Psychology was started in 1995. During the 1990s a series of new graduate level programs were added, expanding the scope of the medical school to a wide range of health-care related programs. In 2005 the school expanded to Georgia with a new branch campus.

Academics

As a free-standing medical school, PCOM offers only graduate-level training. Degrees offered by the college include:

• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
• DO/MBA
• DO/MPH  
• DO/PhD in Health Policy
• DO/PhD in Biomedical Sciences (starting in 2007)
• Clinical Master of Science
• MS in Biomedical Sciences
• PsyD in Clinical Psychology
• PsyD in School Psychology
• MS in School Psychology
• Ed.S. in School Psychology
• MS in Counseling and Clinical Health Psychology
• MS in Organizational Development and Leadership
• Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS)
• MS in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant
• MS in Forensic Medicine

PCOM healthcare centers

In addition to its affiliation with several teaching hospitals, PCOM runs five primary care healthcare centers. The clinics serve the dual purpose of providing community-based health care as well as providing educational experiences for medical students. Services include family medicine, gynecology, geriatrics, psychology, and OMM.

• Sullivan County Medical Center
• Roxborough Healthcare Center
• Cambria Street Healthcare Center
• Lancaster Avenue Heathcare Center
• PCOM City Avenue Healthcare Center

Residency program

PCOM offers a traditional rotating internship, 15 AOA-accredited postgraduate medical training programs, and fellowship program:

• Family Medicine
• Family Practice
• General Surgery
• Geriatrics
• Internal Medicine
• Neurosurgery
• Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
• Urologic Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Fellowship in Emergency Medical Services

Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging

PCOM's Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging is an interdiciplinary research organization. NIH-supported research includes fields such as Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular/reperfusion injury, chronic inflammatory responses, stem cells, and immunosenescence. The center provides research training for medical students as well as graduate students in both the basic sciences and clinical trials. Collaborating institutions include Kuopio University (Finland) , Thomas Jefferson University, Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Notable alumni

• Lt. General Ronald R. Blanck, D.O., M.A.C.P.; Surgeon General of the US Army and Commander of the United States Army Medical Command

References

• school website