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 updated AACOM 2020-2022 Strategic Plan

Strategic Pillars and Actions

1. 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 prospective students, policy makers, 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 graduate medical education programs in successfully achieving and maintaining continued accreditation.

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

• Enhance awareness among applicants, 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.
• Promote the development of graduate medical education opportunities for medical school graduates and increase the number of graduate medical education programs with osteopathic recognition.
• Position osteopathic medical students for successful transition into residency and practice.

3. 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 osteopathic clinical learning environment for the continuum of medical education.
• Share best practices and promote collaboration throughout the osteopathic medical education community to prepare for the evolving health care delivery systems of the future.

4. 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.
• Promote and provide mentorship and support for research and scholarship among osteopathic medical students, residents, and faculty.

5. Build a sustainable, inclusive, and efficient organization that provides value to its members.

• Operate as a fiscally-responsible organization with sound financial management practices and clearly-established budget priorities that advance AACOM’s goals and objectives.
• Foster a workplace culture that values the skills and contributions of diverse and collaborative employees, and that encourages creativity and the open exchange of ideas in support of AACOM’s mission.
• Develop and diversify AACOM’s revenue streams consistent with AACOM’s mission.
• Increase the use of technology to enhance member service, leverage business intelligence, and support communication and collaboration.