AACOM recently announced at its 2009 Annual Meeting the selection of two outstanding osteopathic medical students, Brandon Harold Abbott, MPH, and Jessica Hilst, to participate in the 2010 Osteopathic Health Policy Intern (OHPI) program. 

Mr. Abbott, an OMS-II at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences - School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, holds an MPH from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and a BA from Arizona State University.  During his internship, Mr. Abbott proposes to analyze the current relationship between the osteopathic profession and community health centers, and to explore the feasibility of expanding primary care graduate medical education (GME) in that practice setting. 

Ms. Hilst is an OMS-III at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  She holds a BS from Jacksonville University.  As an intern, Ms. Hilst will examine GME issues facing osteopathic students, including selecting an osteopathic or an allopathic residency.

The OHPI Program enables osteopathic medical students to spend two months in the government relations department at the AACOM headquarters.  To the extent practical, every effort is made to identify the two-month period that best accommodates the students’ schedules. 

The objective of the program is to allow selected student interns to develop an understanding and operational knowledge of how federal health care policy is developed and how to have an effective impact on public policy formulation.