Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

medical school A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...

with its main campus in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, and additional locations in

Suwanee, Georgia Suwanee is a city in Gwinnett County and a northeastern suburb of Atlanta in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,355; this had grown to an estimated 20,907 as of 2019. Portions of Forsyth and Fulton counties ...

(PCOM Georgia) and

Moultrie, Georgia Moultrie is the county seat and largest city of Colquitt County, Georgia, United States. It is the third largest city in Southwest Georgia, behind Thomasville and Albany. As of the 2010 census, Moultrie's population was 14,268. It was originall ...

(PCOM South Georgia). Founded in 1899, PCOM is one of the nation's oldest medical schools. PCOM also operates several healthcare centers in Philadelphia and an

osteopathic Osteopathy () is a type of alternative medicine that emphasizes physical manipulation of the body's muscle tissue and bones. Practitioners of osteopathy are referred to as osteopaths. Osteopathic manipulation is the core set of techniques i ...

care clinic in Suwanee, Georgia. Additionally, PCOM sponsors residency training programs, which train newly graduated

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

s. The Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging, which aims to improve quality of life for elderly individuals, is located on the Philadelphia campus.

History

PCOM was established on January 24, 1899, as the Philadelphia College and Infirmary of Osteopathy (PCIO). It was the third osteopathic medical school to open in the United States. In September 1899, the first PCIO degree was awarded, and in February 1900, the first PCIO "class," comprising one woman and one MD, graduated. In May 1921, PCIO was renamed to Philadelphia College of Osteopathy (PCO). In 1967, the school adopted its present-day name, becoming the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). In 1973, PCOM opened a new building, Evans Hall, and relocated to its current campus along City Avenue in Philadelphia. In 1979, PCOM acquired the adjacent office building, which was later named Rowland Hall in honor of PCOM's 4th President. From 1995 to 1999, Evans Hall expanded to include a modern

osteopathic manipulative medicine Osteopathy () is a type of alternative medicine that emphasizes physical manipulation of the body's muscle tissue and bones. Practitioners of osteopathy are referred to as osteopaths. Osteopathic manipulation is the core set of techniques in ...

(OMM) lab, more classrooms, a new cafeteria, and the office of admissions. 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 1993, PCOM started the graduate program in biomedical science, offering graduate certificates, and Master of Science degrees. In 1995, a Doctor of Psychology program was established. In 2005, the school opened a branch campus in Georgia, which graduated its first DO class in 2009. In 2005, PCOM Georgia (formerly known as GA-PCOM) enrolled its first class of osteopathic medical students. PCOM Georgia offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO), the

Doctor of Pharmacy A Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD; New Latin: ''Pharmaciae Doctor'') is a professional doctorate in pharmacy. In some countries, it is a doctoral degree to practice the profession of pharmacy or to become a clinical pharmacist. In many countries the ...

degree, the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and graduate programs in biomedical sciences and physician assistant studies. In 2019, PCOM South Georgia welcomed its inaugural class of osteopathic medicine students, and in 2020, its first cohort of Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences students. For more than a century, PCOM has trained physicians, health practitioners, and

behavioral scientists Behavioral sciences explore the cognitive processes within organisms and the behavioral interactions between organisms in the natural world. It involves the systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behavior through naturalistic o ...

. In the United States, there are two types of physicians: DO physicians and MD physicians. Both are fully qualified physicians, licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery.

Academics

As a free-standing medical school, PCOM offers only graduate-level training. PCOM offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine (D.O.), pharmacy (PharmD), physical therapy (DPT), and psychology (PsyD). In addition, master's degrees are offered in school psychology, public health, organizational development and leadership, forensic medicine, biomedical sciences, and physician assistant studies. PCOM is institutionally accredited by the

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (Middle States Association or MSA) was a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association that performed peer evaluation and regional educational accreditation, accreditation of public and priva ...

. The

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO or D.O., or in Australia DO USA) is a medical degree conferred by the 38 osteopathic medical schools in the United States. DO and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees are equivalent: a DO graduate may become licens ...

(DO) program is accredited by the

American Osteopathic Association The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the representative member organization for the more than 176,000 osteopathic medical doctors (D.O.s) and osteopathic medical students in the United States. The AOA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinoi ...

. The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at PCOM Georgia is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Effective May 2, 2018, the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at PCOM Georgia has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. PCOM's PsyD program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association and its School Psychology PsyD program is accredited on contingency by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.

Campuses

PCOM operates three campuses; one campus is located in Philadelphia, another is near Atlanta in Suwanee, Georgia and the third is in Moultrie, Georgia. The Philadelphia campus is 17 acres, and the Georgia campus in Suwanee is 23 acres. The PCOM Library is the college's library. In addition to its other activities, the library is also responsible for the creation of the college's institutional repository, the Digital Commons at PCOM.

Student life

Students at both the Philadelphia and Georgia campuses have access to fitness centers, and participate in several recreational and professional clubs on campus. PCOM hosts the sole remaining chapter

Phi Sigma Gamma Phi Sigma Gamma () (PSG) is an American men's osteopathic medical fraternity. The fraternity was established in Chicago, Illinois by a merger between two previously existing osteopathic fraternities, Phi Sigma Beta and Phi Omicron Gamma, each of ...

, an osteopathic fraternity, which was founded in 1917. The college hosts an active chapter of

Sigma Sigma Phi Sigma Sigma Phi ( or SSP), is the national osteopathic medicine honors fraternity for medical students training to be Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). The National Osteopathic Medicine Honors Fraternity is a group united in the interest of ...

, a national Osteopathic Medicine Honors Fraternity that emphasizes community service and scholastic achievement.

Healthcare centers

In addition to its affiliation with several teaching hospitals, PCOM runs several primary care healthcare centers including Cambria Division Healthcare Center, Lancaster Avenue Healthcare Center, and Family Medicine at PCOM. 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 Family medicine is a medical specialty within primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases, and parts of the body. The specialist, who is usually a primary ...

gynecology Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined are ...

dermatology Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. . It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medical ...

geriatrics Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term ''geriatrics'' originates from the Greek language, Greek γέρων ''geron'' meaning "old man", and ιατ ...

psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

, and OMM.

Residency programs

PCOM residency programs include a multi-hospital integrated approach. The total position numbers can vary with program directors' plans and implementation time frame. *

Family Medicine Family medicine is a medical specialty within primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases, and parts of the body. The specialist, who is usually a primary ...

General Surgery General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on alimentary canal and abdominal contents including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid ...

* Internal Medicine *

Neurosurgery Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and peri ...

* Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine *

Ophthalmology Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a medic ...

Orthopedic Surgery Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...

Otorhinolaryngology Otorhinolaryngology ( , abbreviated ORL and also known as otolaryngology, otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (ORL–H&N or OHNS), or ear, nose, and throat (ENT)) is a surgical subspeciality within medicine that deals with the surgical a ...

Fellowship Programs

Hospice and Palliative Medicine In 2006, ''hospice and palliative medicine'' was officially recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, and is ''co-sponsored'' by the American Boards of * Internal Medicine * Anesthesiology * Family Medicine * Physical Medicine ...

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ''Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery'' is a peer-reviewed medical journal and the official publication of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. It covers all aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery Reconstructive surgery is surgery ...

* Geriatric Medicine

Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging

The mission of the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA) at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is to improve the quality of life for all individuals suffering from age-related chronic diseases and disorders. The CCDA promotes a better understanding of the nature of chronic disease processes by supporting basic and applied investigations, and providing educational opportunities for the community, scientists and health care professionals. The CCDA furthers its mission through an interdisciplinary approach combining scientific research, education, and clinical application into chronic diseases and disorders associated with the aging process.

Notable alumni

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine has trained 12,941 physicians, with 2,467 non-physician alumni. * Ethel D. Allen, D.O., an American

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

politician. * Bo Bartlett, an American realist painter. * Ronald R. Blanck, D.O., the first and only osteopathic physician ever appointed Surgeon General of the US Army. *

Sean Conley Sean Patrick Conley (born 1980) is an American physician and United States Navy officer who served as the Physician to the President from 2018 to 2021. Conley served as physician to president Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic, often ser ...

, D.O., incumbent

Physician to the President The physician to the president is the formal and official title of the physician who is chosen by the president to be his personal physician. Often, the physician to the president also serves as the director of the White House Medical Unit, a u ...

and Commander in the US Navy. * Ira W. Drew, D.O., a Democratic politician in the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

. * Steven Eisenberg, D.O., known as "The Singing Cancer Doctor." * Ted Eisenberg, D.O., the

Guinness World Record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

holder for most breast augmentation surgeries performed. * Joseph C. Gambone, DO, MPH, author of ''Essentials of Obstetrics and Gynecology''. Gambone Peak on

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...

was named in his honor in 1970. * Joe Heck, D.O. was the U.S. representative for Nevada's 3rd congressional district from January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017, and is a member of the Republican Party. * Harold Marion Osborn D.O., a U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist in track. * Walter Prozialeck, Professor and Researcher at Midwestern University * W. Kenneth Riland, D.O., physician for President Richard M. Nixon and New York Governor

Nelson A. Rockefeller Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (July 8, 1908 – January 26, 1979), sometimes referred to by his nickname Rocky, was an American businessman and politician who served as the 41st vice president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. A member of t ...

, and cofounder of the

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYIT-COM) is a private medical school located primarily in Old Westbury, New York. It also has a degree-granting campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Founded in 1977, NYIT-COM is an ...

. * Charles Sophy, D.O.,

psychiatrist A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry, the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are physicians and evaluate patients to determine whether their sy ...

, medical director for the LA Dept of Children and Family Services, and author of several books. *

Jennifer Strong Jennifer E. Strong (June 24, 1973 – March 27, 2011) was an American soccer player who played as a defender, making one appearance for the United States women's national team. Career Strong played soccer for the North Penn Maidens in high s ...

, an American

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

player who played as a defender for the United States women's national team.

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine Medical schools in Pennsylvania Osteopathic medical schools in the United States Private universities and colleges in Pennsylvania Universities and colleges in Philadelphia Private universities and colleges in Georgia (U.S. state) Educational institutions established in 1899 Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union Education in Gwinnett County, Georgia Buildings and structures in Gwinnett County, Georgia 1899 establishments in Pennsylvania West Philadelphia Medical schools in Georgia (U.S. state)