AZCOM

Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

In 1995, Midwestern University acknowledged the growing need for physicians in the United States and established AZCOM in Glendale, Arizona. The inaugural class of osteopathic medical students began classes on September 30, 1996 and graduated on June 4, 2000. AZCOM achieved full accreditation status following the graduation of this first class. In 2008, AZCOM increased its class size to 250 to help address the need for more physicians in the state of Arizona.

The osteopathic profession employs a patient-centered approach to health care, with an emphasis on primary care/preventive medicine. Osteopathic physicians (DOs) enjoy the same rights and privileges as allopathic physicians (MDs) and possess an additional skill to treat patients: osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). By combining OMM with traditional medical approaches, DOs provide patients with the most comprehensive care available.

Mission

Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine educates students to exhibit professionalism, provide patient care, and serve their communities in order to become qualified osteopathic physicians.

 The mission will be achieved by meeting the following objectives: 

1. Incorporate clinical teaching into the curriculum throughout the four year program.
2. Incorporate osteopathic principles and practice into both preclinical and clinical training years.
3. Incorporate basic scientific principles into the learning and medical curriculum.
4. Provide opportunities for research and scholarly activity for students, graduates, and faculty.
5. Prepare students for COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2 CE, and Level 2 PE to support completion of the program and graduation. 
6. Demonstrate continuing progress in acquiring the core competencies during student clinical clerkship training.
7. Assess the performance of AZCOM graduates.
8. Encourage community service by students, graduates, and faculty.
9. Support the Midwestern University Osteopathic Postgraduate Training Institute (MWU/OPTI) to mutually enhance the training of our students, residents, and faculty.
10. Equip students to be successful in residency placement.
11. Provide faculty development opportunities to promote AZCOM objectives.
12. Provide financial literacy programs and events.

Learn more about the osteopathic medicine program at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine.