A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

Coordinates: 33°22′57.86″N 111°42′18.30″W / 33.3827389°N 111.7050833°W

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Established 2007
Provost Craig M. Phelps, D.O., FAOASM
Dean Kay Kalousek, DO[1]
Academic staff
 176 full-time[2]
469 part-time[2]
Students 425[3]
Location Mesa, Arizona, USA
Campus 22 acres
Website atsu.edu/soma

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) is an osteopathic medical school in the United States granting the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. Established in 2007, ATSU-SOMA is located at the Mesa, Arizona campus of the founding osteopathic medical school, A.T. Still University. A.T. Still University operates a main campus in Kirksville, Missouri.

The school accepts approximately 100 new students each year. The first class of 92 students graduated in June 2011.[4][5] SOMA is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).[6]

Mission

To serve "as a learning-centered university dedicated to preparing highly competent professionals through innovative academic programs with a commitment to continue its osteopathic heritage and its focus on whole person healthcare, scholarship, community health, interprofessional education, diversity, and underserved populations."[7]

Campus

ATSU SOMA Main Building

The campus operates in a portion of a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) building on the 22 acres (89,000 m2) campus of A.T. Still University in Mesa. The campus is the anchor of the Arizona Health & Technology Park, a 132-acre (0.53 km2) education, healthcare, and technology triangle owned by ATSU and Vanguard Health Systems. The master plan for the new park includes hospitals, long-term care facilities, professional offices, and product development research facilities.

The campus is also home to the Arizona School of Health Sciences Arizona School of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, and the 32,000-square-foot (3,000 m2) East Valley Family YMCA.[8]

Curriculum

The curriculum at SOMA is unique in that all of the clinical education is based at one of eleven community health centers throughout the country.[9]

Training

SOMA uses the Clinical Presentation Educational Model which teaches that there are about 120 different ways that a patient can present themself to a physician. The teaching method was based on a method developed in 1994 by the University of Calgary.[10] Basic sciences are coupled with clinical sciences so that the students have a more comprehensive and practical foundation for each medical discipline.[11] The curriculum design emphasizes clinical competencies. which allows students to enter residency programs with greater experience with chronic disease than students educated in the majority of tertiary care-oriented academic health centers.[10]

Clinic Locations

SOMA is unique in that the first year is spent at the Mesa campus and the last three years at one of many community clinics. As of 2012 SOMA offers 11 community clinic opportunities in such locations as:[12]

Hometown endorsement

SOMA was started in response to a request from, and in partnership with, the nation’s healthcare safety net of community health centers. The purpose of hometown endorsement is to help the medical school meet the needs of community health centers by attracting and training dedicated, motivated, and qualified community-minded physicians.[13]

Hometown applicants are those who have:

A hometown endorsement lets the medical school know which applicants community health centers believe could become the compassionate community-minded healers they would like to employ. Prospective students interested in seeking a hometown endorsement are encouraged to seek and identify a community health center to connect with as a volunteer or employee. In this way, the student can learn about that health center’s approach for improving community health, develop health center relationships, and (hopefully) gain the endorsement from that CHC. A community health center leader can advocate an applicant's acceptance into the medical school by sending a hometown endorsement letter. Hometown letters of endorsement do not replace the regular application process. Hometown endorsement letters parallel the regular application process – a process that requires its own letters of support.[13]

History

Historical Deans

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kalousek appointed dean of ATSU-SOMA". Heartland Connection. March 27, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Academic Fast Facts - School of Osteopathic Medicine - A.T. Still University". Atsu.edu. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  3. ↑ "A.T. Still University–School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA)" (PDF). American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.
  4. ↑ Thomason, Art (4 June 2011). "A.T. Still in Mesa lauds its 1st medical graduates". The Arizona Republic.
  5. ↑ Thomason, Art (June 3, 2011). "A.T. Still medical school has first graduation today". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "ATSU-SOMA receives full accreditation status". ATSU News Releases. 1 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "SOMA School Catalog" (PDF). Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Entries tagged with “Arizona Health & Technology Park” » » News Releases – A.T. Still University". News.atsu.edu. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  9. ↑ Chen, Candace; Mullan, Fitzhugh (June 2009). "The separate osteopathic medical education pathway: uniquely addressing national needs. Point." (PDF). Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 84 (6): 695. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181a3dd28. PMID 19474535. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Faculty Interview: ATSU-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona". The Student Doctor Network. 10 November 2008.
  11. ↑ "Student D.O. Day at ATSU-SOMA Flyer" (PDF).
  12. ↑ Handout, SOMA, October 2010
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Hometown Partnerships for Health". ATSU SOMA Admissions. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Kalousek appointed dean of ATSU-SOMA » News Releases – A.T. Still University". News.atsu.edu. Retrieved 2013-01-25.

External links