AACOM Strategic Plan 2020 - 2022

Mission

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) leads and advocates for the osteopathic medical education community to improve the health of the public.

AACOM represents and advances the continuum of medical education by:

• supporting our member institutions as they educate a diverse future physician workforce;
• increasing awareness of osteopathic medical education and osteopathic medicine;
• promoting excellence in medical education, policy, research, and service; and
• fostering innovation and quality throughout medical education.

Download a PDF of the AACOM 2020-2022 Strategic Plan

Operational Pillars and Required Work

Revised November 2021

1. ORGANIZATION: Build a sustainable, inclusive and efficient organization that provides value to its members as a central hub and source of high value products and services to COMS.

• Operate in a fiscally responsible manner with a budget that advances AACOM’s mission and
  priorities.
• Foster a diverse and collaborative workplace that encourages creativity and the open exchange
  of ideas.
• Develop and diversify AACOM’s revenue streams consistent with AACOM’s mission.
• Increase the use of technology to enhance medical education, member service, leverage
  business intelligence, and support communication and collaboration.
• Operate a high-performing, future-oriented governance structure at all levels of the
  organization.

2. SOLUTION: Advance osteopathic medical education as an effective solution to improving the nation’s health.

• Serve as the national voice of the osteopathic medical education community and represent the
  interests and priorities of osteopathic medical education with key stakeholders.
• Increase awareness and understanding among policy makers, the osteopathic medical
  education community and other key stakeholders about osteopathic medical education and its
  role in advancing the health of the nation.
• Advocate for federal health and education policies that advance medical education and address
  medical student debt, sustainable funding for graduate medical education, and the preparation
  of the health professions workforce.
• Assist medical education programs in successfully achieving and maintaining undergraduate
  (COCA) and graduate (GME) continued accreditation and recognition.

3. PATHWAY: Promote osteopathic medical education as a preferred pathway for future physicians to meet the nation’s evolving health care needs.

• Enhance awareness among applicants, prospective students, and pre-health advisors of the
  opportunities that osteopathic medical education creates for graduates and residents.
• Generate a diverse cohort of qualified applicants from which the colleges of osteopathic
  medicine will admit, train, and educate physicians.
• Position osteopathic medical students for successful transitions into residency and practice.
• Promote development of graduate medical education programs and graduate level osteopathic
  medical education including programs with osteopathic recognition.

4. CULTURE: Support excellence, innovation and a culture of lifelong learning throughout the continuum of medical education.

• Provide leadership to, and partner with, schools and health care institutions to foster student,
  resident, and faculty success and well-being in the osteopathic learning environment.
• Provide faculty development and resources to build a cadre of qualified faculty and support
  osteopathic medical educators to grow and thrive in their roles.
• Deliver leadership development programs to prepare deans and administrators for success in
  the rapidly changing environment for medical education.
• Provide leadership, resources, and support to maintain and expand the community-based
  clinical learning environment for the continuum of medical education.
• Share best practices and promote collaboration throughout the medical education community
  to prepare for the evolving health care delivery systems of the future.

5. SCHOLARSHIP: Foster scholarship and research to demonstrate the distinctive value and approach of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education.

• Advance a culture of inquiry throughout the continuum of osteopathic medical education that
  promotes research and scholarship.
• Develop AACOM’s capacity for institutional research and scholarship focused on osteopathic
  medical education, including discovery, collection of data and interpretation of trends to offer
  forecasts and projections.
• Promote and provide mentorship and support for research and scholarship among osteopathic
  medical students, residents, and faculty.