DO - Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

TODAY’SDO
DO
Dean’s Message
Today’s D.O. is published two
times a year by the Office of
Communication of the Ohio University
College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Editorial offices:
Room 330, Grosvenor Hall,
Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701.
Editorial Board
Susan Lash Blanchard
Assistant Dean for Development
George F. Dunigan II
Director of Governmental Affairs
Mathew J. Rose
Student Government President
Edwin C. Rowland, Ph.D.
Chair, Department
of Biomedical Sciences
John D. Schriner, Ph.D.
Director of Admissions
Sharon B. Zimmerman
Director of Alumni Affairs
Content Editor
Sally Linder
Copy Editor
Shelby S. Mullins
Design
Kari Gunter-Seymour
Photography
John P. Sattler
Writers and Contributors
Kirsten Brown
Melissa Cabral
Melissa Rake Calhoun
Maureen Harmon
Richard Heck
Linda Knopp
Jennifer Kowalewski
Sally Linder
Joy Rodgers
Administration
Roderick J. McDavis, Ph.D
President, Ohio University
John A. Brose, D.O.
Dean, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Karoline Lane
Director, Office of Communication
Opinions expressed in Today’s D.O. are
those of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect
viewpoints of the editors or official
policy of the Ohio University
College of Osteopathic Medicine.
© ’06 Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Address updates for Today’s D.O.
should be referred to Sheila Bycofski,
OU-COM, 332 Grosvenor Hall,
Athens, OH 45701.
phone: (740) 593-2346
e-mail: bycofski@ohio.edu.
Few would argue that the osteopathic medical profession is one of the
major success stories in health care. The quality of our students and
educational programs is higher than ever.
Research was once the weak companion to teaching and service.
This is no longer the case. Our students won’t allow it.
Historically, many of the principles of our profession were based on anecdote and shared
experiences, rather than solid medical evidence. Today’s osteopathic medical student is
too scientifically sophisticated to accept that. Dr. Norman Gevitz, professor of social
medicine at OU-COM, discussed this issue in a recent JAOA article when he noted,
“Osteopathic students wish to see evidence. They want proof. Instead of scientific
demonstrations, however, they get only case reports, anecdotes, testimonials, theories,
speculations, reasoning by analogy, and pilot studies. These studies typically have few
subjects and usually prove little or nothing.”
I believe that we are moving to another level in interpreting our own literature. Early in
our profession’s history, osteopathic research often suffered from inadequate numbers of
subjects, methodological error and misinterpretation of data. When studies came to the
conclusions we desired, we were willing to ignore methodological flaws and quote them.
One example of this is the frequently cited 1918 AOA survey regarding osteopathic care
during the Spanish flu epidemic. Although this survey had significant methodological
problems that prevented any significant conclusions being drawn, even 88 years later it is
frequently cited. Similarly, even if our own studies spoke against commonly held beliefs,
we sometimes ignored all or part of the findings.
Fortunately, things are changing. Osteopathic medical schools located at state universities
are building major research programs in many different areas. The AOA’s Osteopathic
Research Center has created well-designed research protocols to answer basic questions
regarding traditional osteopathic therapy. These studies will create a scientific basis for
OMM instruction.
At the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, we are joining forces with the Russ
College of Engineering and Technology to build a multidisciplinary research center, the
Integrated Learning and Research Facility, that is slated to open in 2009. This new facility,
funded in part by the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations, will bring together the research
talents of faculty from multiple Ohio University colleges. And whether or not studies show
what we want them to, they will be published and integrated into our curriculum.
This emphasis on quality research and the merging of research and education is a fundamental
change in the approach to osteopathic medical education. The Ohio University College
of Osteopathic Medicine will continue its efforts to lead in that transition. Our students
won’t have it any other way.
Jack Brose, D.O.
Dean, Ohio University College of
Osteopathic Medicine
www.oucom.ohio.edu