AACOM Celebrates Multi-Year Investment in Advancing Physician Well-Being and Training Outcomes

As part of a broader effort to address wellness, resilience and professional development across the medical education continuum, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), through the leadership of the AACOM UME-GME Task Force, recently completed a three-year pilot initiative focused on expanding coaching resources for osteopathic medical students.

Through this initiative, AACOM invested in the Better Together Physician Coaching Program, providing osteopathic medical students with access to a scalable, evidence-informed coaching model designed to support learners throughout undergraduate medical education. The pilot offered a flexible, multi-modal approach that included self-guided learning, group coaching sessions, anonymous written coaching and one-on-one support, creating accessible and psychologically safe opportunities for reflection, growth and professional development.

Growing Reach and Engagement

Initially launched to support unmatched students navigating the transition to residency, the initiative later expanded to include learners across all stages of medical education. Over the course of the pilot, hundreds of osteopathic medical students engaged with coaching resources designed to foster resilience, self-reflection and personal well-being.

“Osteopathic medicine has long emphasized care for the whole person, and that commitment must extend to our learners,” said Tami Hendriksz, DO, AACOM UME-GME Task Force – Transition to Residency chair, campus provost, Touro University California, dean, College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Supporting learner well-being is essential to developing compassionate, resilient physicians who are prepared to meet the evolving needs of our communities. As educators, we must create environments where students feel supported, valued, and empowered.”

"Supporting learner well-being is essential to the development of effective, compassionate physicians,” said Brian Kessler, DO, AACOM UME-GME Task Force chair, dean, Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. “The Better Together Physician Coaching Program represents an important investment in our trainees, helping them navigate the challenges of medical education while strengthening long-term training outcomes."

Looking Ahead

The pilot contributed valuable insights into learner-centered approaches that support well-being, professional identity formation and the transition to residency. AACOM and the UME-GME Task Force remain committed to advancing learner well-being and will continue exploring and investing in strategies that support the success, resilience and professional fulfillment of future physicians.