As we move to a single accreditation system for GME, many questions arise regarding the current status of programs accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and osteopathic recognition through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Buser et al
9 illuminate the history, policies, and future directions of the single accreditation system. Important updates to the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Board Examinations-USA are provided by Gimpel et al,
10 and Weiting et al
11 provide specialty board certification updates. In line with continued GME efforts, we have experienced momentum and needed growth in osteopathic GME.
12 Six states and the District of Columbia demonstrated a greater than 50% increase in total number of trainees, and 14 other states recorded growth in the number of training programs. The 2 specialty programs demonstrating the most growth were family medicine and internal medicine.
12 This finding is especially encouraging considering that primary care has been identified as a physician workforce aggregate shortage category.
8
Along with GME growth and the transition process, residency placement is increasingly important. VanOrder et al
13 investigated the residency interview process across 83 osteopathic and dually accredited programs and specialties. This study identified preferred interview approaches and highly regarded candidate qualities such as ethical behaviors, honesty, self-motivation, and ability to work in a team effectively. Interestingly, no criterion standard was identified that directly corresponded to residents’ performance or program directors’ satisfaction.
13
Promotion and maintenance of osteopathic distinctiveness through osteopathic recognition and osteopathic-focused curricula is incredibly important to the future of the osteopathic medical profession. And, among third-year medical students, 70% reported that an ACGME program with osteopathic recognition was more appealing than one without osteopathic recognition.
14 Does familiarity with osteopathic medicine affect program directors’ perceptions of residency candidates? Hempstead et al
15 investigated this question and found that residency programs with formal OMT curricula ranked the academic preparation of osteopathic residents higher than did programs without. In addition, program directors of dually accredited programs rated the clinical preparedness of osteopathic residents higher when compared with program directors of programs with ACGME-only accreditation.
15 Points of discussion for further inquiry include: Does exposure and familiarity with OMT curricula reduce preconceived biases against osteopathic medicine? Will osteopathic recognition through the ACGME positively affect our future osteopathic residents by exposing other health care professionals to OMT and osteopathic medicine?
The final article of this issue considers the most important aspect of medicine: humanism. Key habits that affect humanism and potentially reduce physician burnout are seeking a connection with patients and achieving work-life balance. These habits have positive effects on patients and physicians alike.
16 Both AACOM and the AAMC have directed focus on a broad spectrum of factors influencing humanism, including mental health and well-being, physician burnout, mindfulness, resilience, and empathy. Programs that promote humanism encourage students to identify and practice effective skills in patient observation and connections, but skills are not always measureable through traditional approaches. Baltonado, a third-year osteopathic medical student, and Cymet
17 present a well-articulated journey through humanism and medicine. They encourage us to be reflective and creative and challenge us to maintain or reestablish our joy in medicine through humanistic engagement with our patients.