Recap: Train-the-Trainer Hands-On Workshop for Osteopathic Preceptors

On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, AACOM held its first pre-conference workshop for preceptors on how to teach osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) and how to implement similar workshops at their home institutions. Individuals of diverse educational backgrounds (DO, MD, PhD, etc.) arrived at the Loews Kansas City Hotel for the program taking place during this year's Educating Leaders conference. Upon arriving in the workshop room, attendees were greeted with evenly spaced osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) tables in preparation for live, hands-on demonstrations of OMM. These demonstrations were provided by an array of expert educators representing institutions across the country including University of North Texas Health Science Center - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM), A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Mayo Clinic.  

Participants kicked off the course with foundational knowledge to understand the core components of osteopathic learning environments and how to implement them at their home institutions. Following this was the first live demonstration of the day of a standing postural exam, which the audience then practiced on each other. With this introduction to OMM, for some a refresher, attendees were then given a wide range of resources using an osteopathic lens on faculty development and developing scholarly activity. Participants received a structured overview of the five models of patient care in an osteopathic environment, which they were able to practice using simple, yet effective, OMM/OMT techniques. 

This provided a transition for the next discussion on how to effectively apply OMM in clinical practice, integrate them into existing Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education milestones and Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation requirements and overcome perceived barriers for doing so. As part of the presentation, the audience learned and practiced spinal screens, self-stretches and addressing spinal paraspinal soft tissue. This led to a rich discussion on the importance of using inclusive terminology that can allow both allopathic and osteopathic physicians to understand and apply OMM.  

The workshop also provided resources for educators on how to provide and receive feedback from learners, faculty and patients. Using a live simulation of a patient-physician interaction with volunteer audience members, participants were able to provide structured critiques on how to improve the interaction to ensure a productive and positive patient visit. To wrap up the workshop, participants reviewed and discussed an OMT needs assessment to develop an action plan for how to implement these techniques at their institutions. View the workshop's full PowerPoint presentation. 

This initiative was spearheaded by the AACOM UME-GME Task Force’s Graduate Level Osteopathic Training Working Group, chaired by Dr. Richard Terry, and serves as the first of several regional preceptor training workshops. The next regional workshop will take place this May 4–5 at TCOM’s campus using their Osteopathic Manipulation Foundations Microcredential as a base curriculum. This two-day weekend event is open to MDs, DOs, PTs, PAs, residents, students or anyone interested in learning or improving their skills in OMM. Dr. Sajid Surve, who participated as an educator in the Train-the-Trainer workshop, will be leading this course. View the flyer to learn more. Register for the workshop at TCOM.