The physician population has grown and diversified since 2010, as illustrated by the Federation of State Medical Boards' biennial Census of Licensed Physicians in the US. Women make up 37% of the physician workforce compared with 30% in 2010, and the percentage of physicians with DO degrees grew by 89%, compared to an 18% growth for physicians with an MD degree.

Students can apply to the "Go D.O." Early Scholars Program during their senior year of high school and be accepted to medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine before they start their undergraduate education. Students with a high school GPA of 3.75 can follow an early path to becoming an osteopathic physician by completing biology or biochemistry studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College and will not need to take the MCAT exam.

The California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a cutting-edge simulation center to give students practical experience before practicing in real-life situations. "It's a safe environment for our students to learn, nobody laughs, nobody criticizes. It's just a way of giving feedback to our students and saying hey you did this well, you did that well, hey you may want to work on this," said Mattie Bendall, assistant dean of student affairs.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine created a rural medical track to offer clinical training in less populated locations and established rural residency sites throughout the state. Approximately 90% of OSU-COM graduates trained in rural residencies stay in rural areas.

The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Montana's Great Falls, Mont., campus has begun its first orientation week. Class sizes will allow for individual attention, and one goal of the college is to benefit rural communities in Montana.

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, N.M., has graduated 564 physicians since 2020 with an eye toward improving rural health care. "The students I met during the interview cycle were warm, positive and genuinely passionate about serving the underserved of New Mexico and the Borderplex, which resonates with who I am and my mission," medical student Rebecca Nika Tsai said.

A daylong virtual hearing last week began a process of devising regulations for President Joe Biden's newest effort to cancel student debt under the Higher Education Act. Few details of how the program will work have been released, but several student loan borrowers implored the US Education Department during the hearing that everyone who was promised relief gets it.

"Everyone can bring something different to the table," Dr. Henry explains. Hear more about why she is proud to be a DO and her message of self-empowerment in the face of imposter syndrome. Visit the 125th anniversary webpage to learn more about AACOM's history and watch videos celebrating osteopathic medical education leaders.

Join the Rural Residency Planning and Development team on Aug. 15, 2023, at 4 p.m. ET for a technical approach to graduate medical education development as well as tools and resources to grow GME in rural areas. Register now.

You'll also read about UNTHSC/TCOM's dermatology residency program, VCOM-Virginia’s local outreach camp and PCOM's dean who joined a statewide advisory board.