Osteopathic organizations join ACGME

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has announced that the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) are now ACGME member organizations. The measure took effect January 1.

The single accreditation system will allow graduates of allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools to complete their residency and/or fellowship education in ACGME-accredited programs and demonstrate achievement of common Milestones and competencies. Currently, the ACGME and AOA maintain separate accreditations systems for allopathic and osteopathic educational programs.

Beginning July 1, AOA-accredited programs will begin a five-year transition to ACGME accreditation. Osteopathic standards will be added to ACGME standards to define osteopathic programs, and MDs and DOs will remain eligible for all residencies. As member organizations, AOA and AACOM will be integrated into governance and operations of the ACGME. Four osteopathic physicians have been elected to the Board of Directors, two nominated by the AOA and two by AACOM.

Sources: ACGME, AACOM