November 09, 2022 | Downers Grove, IL
OMM Scholars on the Downers Grove Campus elect to extend their training an additional year to focus on teaching, research, and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.
The Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Scholarship Program provides participating Scholars with the opportunity to extend their training an additional year to focus solely on teaching, advanced training in OMM, and research to help prepare them for the possibility of working in academic settings in the future. This fifth year is situated between the typical Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) third and fourth year. During this time, OMM Scholars get both didactic and hands-on classroom experiences, as well as longitudinal outpatient osteopathic experiential training.
We spoke with three OMM Scholars on the Downers Grove Campus about their experiences, and how they plan on implementing these newfound skills in their future practice.
Ryan Schultz (CCOM 2023) OMM Scholar
Why did you apply to become an OMM Scholar?
I applied to the OMM scholarship because I have experienced first-hand the impact OMM can make on a patient’s life. Prior to starting medical school, I suffered a back injury that never seemed to fully heal. Despite visit after visit with different specialists, I was told the source of the pain could not be found and that there was nothing more they could do for me. At the age of 22, I was convinced that I was going to have to live with the pain for the rest of my life. However, over the span of three OMM treatments, my back pain of three years was completely gone. It was this experience that taught me how much of a difference Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) can make on a patient and that was the main driving factor behind my decision to pursue this scholarship. I wanted to deepen my understanding of OMM and gain as much experience with it as possible.
In your words, what characteristics or attributes does it take to be a successful OMM Scholar?
There are many attributes that make a successful OMM Scholar. First and foremost, they must have a passion and appreciation for OMM. The scholarship provides countless opportunities to learn and grow as an osteopathic student. However, the scholarship is also rigorous and pushes scholars to grow in many ways. Without that foundational passion for OMM and desire to learn more, the rigor of the scholarship will prove to be much more challenging. Secondly, successful scholars must have a love for teaching and a desire to share their knowledge with others. Between teaching labs and tutoring students, teaching is a very big component of the scholarship. Having a love for teaching will not only make the scholarship more enjoyable but will allow scholars to teach with an enthusiasm that can foster a passion for OMM in others.
How do you envision implementing OMM into your D.O. career?
Since the beginning of medical school, I have had a passion for gastroenterology. The wide range of pathologies you encounter in the GI tract has always piqued my interest. However, several of these pathologies have very limited treatment options, if any. There are many ways that OMM can be used to treat GI symptoms and the various conditions found in the GI tract. It is my hope to implement OMM in the clinic setting and provide patients with additional treatment options when all other treatments have failed. I also hope to continue teaching OMM throughout my career as a physician, whether it be with my fellow colleagues in the clinic or in the OMM lab in a school setting.
Emily Daly (CCOM 2023) OMM Scholar
Why did you apply to become an OMM Scholar?
Going into osteopathic medical school I did not know much about osteopathic manipulation, but I did know a lot about pain. My master's thesis was on chronic pain and after doing research in this area I felt that this particular population was one I loved working with, but felt helpless to treat. I was excited at the prospect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and once I got into the lab and saw how OMT worked, I started to feel more connected with the OMM philosophy. However, it was not until I saw OMT at the Old Irving Park Community Clinic providing significant pain relief to patients that the feeling of helplessness I had about treating chronic pain disappeared, and my drive to learn and utilize OMT grew ferociously. I felt that completing the Pre-Doctoral OMM Student Scholarship was the only way I could receive the amount of OMT training that I need to be able to work with a full set of tools to treat my future patients.
In your words, what characteristics or attributes does it take to be a successful OMM Scholar?
There are a number of characteristics that we look for in future scholars. A scholar must be highly motivated, dependable, and a good collaborator and communicator. A lot of our work on curriculum and lab planning is done individually and you must be motivated to not only finish your work in a timely manner but also be able to accomplish the learning objectives of the lab while making it fun and engaging for the first- and second-year medical students.
You must be dependable because the department relies on our ability to get things accomplished and continually advocate for the OMM department. You must be a good collaborator because a lot of our work includes involving various department heads and other OMM scholars who are working with you. Successfully completing a task that includes multiple players is a skill set that must be honed and good communication is an absolute must.
How do you envision implementing OMM into your D.O. career?
I am planning on going into psychiatry so implementing OMT looks a little different for me than other specialties. In an in-patient setting, it is necessary to maintain boundaries with no physical touch. However, I would like to implement OMT into my outpatient office visits on an individual basis and be known as a physician who provides that service. Trauma can greatly affect the body physically, so being able to provide OMT could greatly help certain patients. I would also like to start or continue a free OMT clinic to provide OMT to those who are uninsured. Giving back to my community is extremely important to me and doing OMT is something that requires just my time and expertise and allows me to help patients at little to no cost. I also plan to continue teaching in some regard and would love to teach labs and be a clinical preceptor for a D.O. school to continue advocating for the osteopathic philosophy.
Stephanie Hermann (CCOM 2023) OMM Scholar
Why did you apply to become an OMM Scholar?
I applied to be an OMM Scholar because of my love for OMM and teaching! In addition, I love being able to develop relationships with the first- and second-year medical students in OMM labs and being a resource for them in their medical journey.
In your words, what characteristics or attributes does it take to be a successful OMM Scholar?
To be successful you need a genuine love of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), an ability to be a good communicator both as a teacher and a coworker, the ability to lead well and be a collaborative team member, and you need to have a heart of service for others.
How do you envision implementing OMM into your D.O. career?
I plan on implementing OMM philosophy as a whole in the context of Family Medicine. The osteopathic tenets that a person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit with self-regulating and healing capabilities are what drew me to D.O. schools. I look forward to being able to address my patients’ mental and spiritual health in addition to the hands-on techniques that OMT offers for their physical concerns.