Graduate Level Osteopathic Training Spotlight: Strengthening Education Through Collaboration

During the Assembly of Osteopathic Graduate Medical Educators (AOGME)’s October Graduate Level Osteopathic Training Spotlight, Karen Snider, DO, Sajid Surve, DO, and Richard LaBaere II, DO, highlighted a collaboration between A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine(ATSU-KCOM) and the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM). Through the National Center for Osteopathic Principles and Practice Education (NCOPPE), the institutions are expanding access to osteopathic educational resources that support students, residents, faculty and practicing physicians. 

Dr. Snider showcased NCOPPE’s offerings, including on-demand osteopathic manipulative medicine videos and technique demonstrations, live workshops, self-assessment courses and faculty development on topics that help educators strengthen osteopathic instruction and provide meaningful feedback. A structured 20-month curriculum helps residency programs organize these resources around organ systems and special populations.

Dr. Surve described how TCOM’s collaboration adds learning modules, clinical cases and technique demonstrations to the shared collection while giving its affiliated residency programs access to NCOPPE’s resources. He also shared practical lessons from establishing the partnership, emphasizing early coordination around institutional agreements, content permissions, technology and faculty time. 

The presenters encouraged other institutions to consider how their existing curricula, workshops and assessment tools could contribute to this growing osteopathic medical educational community. They emphasized that collaboration extends beyond sharing materials to include teaching, faculty development and joint projects.

Their message was clear: pooling expertise can reduce duplication and help programs sustain osteopathic education, including those without formal Osteopathic Recognition, while supporting the integration of osteopathic principles into patient care.