Tackling Bias in Medical Training and Residency
AACOM is working in collaboration with National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), to understand and address instances of bias and discrimination that osteopathic medical students and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) face during clinical rotations, while matching into residency or accessing fellowship opportunities.
If you believe you have experienced bias or discrimination in clinical rotations as an osteopathic medical student or DO, please complete the confidential form below to report your incident. Our team will review your submission and work with the responsible organization(s) to advocate for systematic change.
Have You Experienced Bias related to Clinical Rotations?
Complete our secure and confidential survey to help AACOM, NBOME & AOA collect the data to shine a light on this issue.
Who Should File a Report?
DOs and osteopathic medical students who feel they were discriminated against or encountered professional barriers to access to training, licensure or credentialing are encouraged to report their experiences.
- Exclusion in any form from a program, audition rotation or training opportunity due to osteopathic medical education
- Any preference toward MD candidates over DO candidates, including written or verbal statements
- Unequal access to training and resources compared to MD peers
- Higher fees or tuition rates compared to MD peers
- Rejection of Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) to advance application or interview process
- Any United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) requirements to apply or interview
- Additional financial, time and emotional costs of being required to take a second exam, including preparation and travel time and costs.
Your submission is confidential
All personally identifiable data will be securely stored and your contact information will only be used to address your complaint. Once your case is resolved your identifiable information is removed from our database permanently.
What the Data Says
Despite recent gains in osteopathic medical recognition, our community still faces unfair barriers compared to their allopathic counterparts (MDs).
Why This Matters
At the highest level, lack of parity for DOs impedes Americans’ ability to access high-quality, cost-effective healthcare. Capable and compassionate physicians committed to serving, especially in communities and specialties with high need, must be provided with equitable pathways to practice.
The United States is experiencing a severe shortage of physicians. This most acutely impacts rural and underserved communities along with specialties like primary care, all areas where DOs disproportionately provide care. Fifty-six percent of COMs are located in HPSAs and 64 percent require clinical rotations in rural and underserved areas. These experiences in medical training increase the likelihood future physicians choose to practice in these communities. HRSA forecasts a shortage of 70,610 primary care physicians. Fifty-six percent of DOs practice in primary care and an additional 25 percent practice in specialties that often supplement or support primary care. Colleges of osteopathic medicine account for six of the top 10 medical schools with the most graduates practicing in rural areas, and five of the top 10 for graduates practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas. |
The physician workforce is also facing burnout.By 2038,This is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (also known as “compassion fatigue”) and low sense of professional accomplishment, brought on by the pressures, demands and emotional intensity of clinical practice coupled with inadequate protective resources. |
For young and future DOs, discrimination and bias can significantly impact their sense of self, professional identity and well-being.This can happen long before they even enter the workforce. |
Shortage: HRSA Physicians Projections Factsheet & Community Based Training Fact Sheet Burnout: HRSA Physicians Projections Factsheet & 2025 OME Impact Report Well-Being: Osteopathic Medical Schools Lead the Nation in Primary Care and Rural Health Rankings
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Additional Resources
Voices from Our Community
The pathway to practice for the growing pipeline of competent, compassionate physicians looking to serve in communities and specialties most in need should not be difficult, costly or mentally burdensome.
Help us advocate for fair pathways to practice.
“During my core psychiatry rotation at [REDACTED], I was introduced to the chief resident as ‘our DO student’—and they laughed. I was constantly singled out, and it made me feel lesser than, every single day.”
“I was asked during an interview if I regretted ‘settling’ for a DO school. It was insulting and demoralizing.”
“I did not apply Cardiothoracic Surgery, my original dream specialty, because every mentor told me no DO has ever matched there at the places I was interested in. I gave up on my dream before even trying, simply because of my degree.”
“After a grueling interview day, the program director ended with: ‘We usually don’t take DOs, but thanks for coming.’ It was crushing.”
“Being discriminated against on [my] away rotations broke me down. I was told directly that DOs weren’t welcome. I went home feeling ashamed and questioning if I belonged in medicine at all.”
DO student experiences reported
in AACOM's Annual Survey.