SOMA's OP&P programs are designed to meet the professional development needs of our student members. Osteopathic preceptors support our efforts to keep the future of osteopathic medicine strong. In response to recent surveys, which rank osteopathic principles and practice among the top five student priorities, several programs have been designed to promote OP&P on a national, local, and personal level.

What is Osteopathic Medicine? Check out this video!

Osteopathic physicians (D.O.'s) are licensed to practice medicine in all 50 states. There are many similarities between D.O.'s and M.D.'s, but a couple of differences stand out: the osteopathic philosophy, and the ability to learn and practice osteopathic manipulative medicine. In osteopathic medical school, we are trained to identify obstructions to health, and help patients overcome those obstructions using our hands, surgery, counseling, medications, alternative methods, and many more modailities. The core osteopathic principles are 1) The body is a unit, a person represents a combination of mind, body and spirit, 2) The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and self-maintenance, 3) Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated, and 4) Rational treatment is based on an understanding of these principles. For more information, please click on the link to the video above, or E-mail the Pre-SOMA Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !

New!! OMT Video Library - We are now calling for video submissions to be a part of our new online technique library.This is a way we can share some of the awesome and unique techniques that we learn at our individual COMs. Make it fun and creative and involve your friends! Email your technique videos back to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it along with a copy of the media release form (link soon to be inserted here). You can also check out the OMT video technique library on the ACOFP site here!

The Osteopathic Outreach Program has been developed as a resource to educate prospective osteopathic medical students and the public in general as to our unique osteopathic heritage. A Power Point presentation is available at each school which will be used as a resource. Our generation is in a unique position to define and communicate our professional identity to the world, one conversation at a time. The Osteopathic Outreach Program will allow first and second year students to obtain the materials needed to present osteopathic principles to local audiences. Students have the opportunity to develop their public speaking skills while learning one way to answer that often heard question: "What is a D.O.?"
Download the Osteopathic Outreach Program PowerPoint® to get the answers.