Program areas at AACOM
Centralized student application service - provides a centralized application service for students applying to u.s. Osteopathic medical Colleges by allowing the students to apply to multiple medical schools using one common application, and standardizing the review process for Aacom's member Colleges. During this year, 23,194 student applicants participated. Aacom engages in recruitment activities to develop awareness about Osteopathic Medicine among potential medical school applicants. Aacom's recruitment efforts seek to attract a diverse and academically well-qualified pool of applicants for its member medical schools.
Government relations - represents the Association's constituents and interests to congress and federal policy makers in leading the Association's congressional and federal policy advocacy efforts. The office keeps constituents informed of federal policy and regulatory developments in Osteopathic medical education and the Osteopathic medical education community, as well as informs federal legislators of the needs of Osteopathic medical students, trainees, and Osteopathic medical educators. The department also works in concert with various national organizations and coalitions to influence both legislative and regulatory issues relevant to Osteopathic medical education.
Marketing and communications - oversees Aacom's branding and strengthening the voice and influence of Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathic medical education with key stakeholders and communities. It promotes Osteopathic medical education with digital initiatives, including websites, emails, social media platforms, creative content, and print efforts. Aacom reaches millions of prospective Osteopathic students, deans, faculty, and other decision makers each year.
Annual conference - runs a national conference that is focused on important topics in the Osteopathic medical education continuum. The conference also focuses on promoting education, research, and collaboration opportunities among the community.
Projects & initiatives - focuses on new or one-time initiatives to address emerging issues for the Osteopathic Medicine community.
Member services - oversees the Association's membership approach, improves member engagement and onboarding, and provides programs and services to advance the education of Osteopathic Medicine.
Research and information services - collects and analyzes statistical data on Osteopathic medical education, including data on students, faculty,alumni, curricula, new school development, and service at the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. The department provides the data to member Colleges, health policy makers, members of congress, and the general public.
Office of medical education - works with member Colleges to promote excellence in Osteopathic medical education focusing on issues related to teaching, technology, assessment, accreditation, and curriculum throughout the continuum from undergraduate to graduate medical education.
Graduate medical educators initiatives - focuses on various priority items in graduate medical education including increasing the residency programs for Osteopathic medical students, increasing managers of these programs who are do's, managing the membership for the assembly of Osteopathic graduate medical educators, promoting the value of the Osteopathic learning environment to residency training and patient care, providing support to programs obtaining Osteopathic recognition, and creating a learning community for Osteopathic medical educators.