Instructional Program
As scientists and practitioners of the healing arts, osteopathic physicians subscribe to a philosophy that regards the body as an integrated whole with structure and function working interdependently. As an extension of this philosophy, osteopathic physicians treat their patients as unique persons with biological, psychological, and sociological needs, an approach that underscores the osteopathic commitment to patient-oriented versus disease-oriented healthcare. In recognition of this approach, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) has developed, and continues to refine, a four-year curriculum that educates students in the biopsychosocial approach to patient care, as well as the basic medical arts and sciences.

Within this curricular format, AZCOM students spend their first two years completing a rigorous basic science and introductory clinical curriculum, preparing for their clinical studies, including early simulated and clinical experiences. During their third and fourth years, students rotate through a variety of clinical training sites accruing 84 weeks of direct patient care experience. By stimulating intellectual curiosity and teaching problem-solving skills, the AZCOM curriculum encourages students to regard learning as a lifelong process.

Ultrasound is vertically integrated into the core concepts within the four-year curriculum. Student training throughout all four years includes both hands-on workshops and didactic sessions specific to diverse clinical disciplines. The hands-on workshops are developed in collaboration with clinical faculty, preclinical faculty, and consulting sonographers. Preclinical courses will offer students an opportunity to scan their peers, providing the most relevant active visual learning of real structure, function and variation of living tissue. These are innovative tactile workshops which focus on reinforcing core course information, while also providing early clinical training opportunities that align with core entrustable professional activities. It also assists with early development of identifiable core competencies. During the clinical years, hands-on training will include patient-based examinations and advanced clinical skills training, while reinforcing application of core information from preclinical courses (anatomy, physiology, pathology, and osteopathic principles and practices). These experiences will enhance early critical thinking skills, increase communication and interprofessional collaboration between clinical and preclinical faculty, and improve and reinforce vertical integration of clinical and preclinical concepts in participating courses.

Total Curricular Hours

Please Note: AZCOM reserves the right to alter its curriculum and delivery, however and whenever it deems appropriate.