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OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE

Explore osteopathic medicine at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, where we are committed to offering hands-on skills, continuity of care, and excellence in osteopathic education.

Two female PMLGH Residents

A Message FromOur Director of Osteopathic Education

At the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, we are delighted to offer our osteopathic residents a broad spectrum of opportunities to use their hands-on skills in multiple arenas of family medicine. Our program achieved the ACGME’s Osteopathic Recognition in 2023, and our training emphasizes continuity of care and incorporation of osteopathic principles and practice with the goal of creating the finest osteopathic physicians.

Our faculty, both osteopathic and allopathic, are committed to excellence and teaching in all of our clinical settings. Our DO residents get to apply their skills with patients during our weekly OMT clinics where they are supervised by osteopathic faculty. We offer dedicated osteopathic didactic sessions for reviewing and practicing techniques, board review, hospital rounds, journal club, and a variety of other osteopathic experiences.

In addition, residents are able to treat their continuity patients and hospitalized patients with osteopathic methods under the supervision of our staff. Both of our outpatient family health centers have the facilities needed for OMT. We offer elective rotations in OMM as well.  Our osteopathic residents participate in osteopathic scholarly activity and are encouraged to attend osteopathic conferences. As a long-standing and well-established family medicine program, we are proud of our excellent reputation for producing highly qualified and skilled physicians for our community.
 
We welcome your questions and look forward to meeting you!
Kirsten Johnsen Martin, DO, FAAFP

Director of Osteopathic Education

Osteopathic Applicant FAQs

Osteopathic Applicant FAQs

Osteopathic Recognition (OR) signifies that our residency program has received special accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to provide residents with comprehensive training in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and OPP (Osteopathic Principles and Practice). This recognition allows us to incorporate OMT and OPP into our daily clinical practice and educational structure, ensuring our residents are proficient in both osteopathic and allopathic care.
Yes! We offer OMT services at both of our clinic locations (Walter Aument Family Health Center and Downtown Family Medicine).  These clinics provide dedicated time and space for residents to practice OMT under supervision while seeing patients who specifically seek osteopathic care. Both allopathic and osteopathic residents have the opportunity to participate.
We are proud to have two full-time and one part-time faculty members who are DOs. They play a key role in teaching and mentoring residents in osteopathic principles, OMT, and integrated patient care. Their experience allows residents to gain personalized and expert instruction in osteopathic techniques, making osteopathic education an integral part of your residency experience.
Yes! While our program is designed for both DOs and MDs, MD residents can be designated as "osteopathic residents" upon entry into the program. This designation allows them to receive training in OMT and OPP, participate in our OMT-specific activities, and become proficient in osteopathic techniques alongside their general medical education.
Absolutely! Residents have the opportunity to incorporate OMT into their regular clinic panel. You can see patients who are specifically seeking osteopathic care or apply OMT techniques to other patients as part of your standard clinical practice, with support and supervision from experienced DO faculty. 

We offer ongoing faculty development sessions focused on teaching and precepting OMT visits. These sessions ensure that our attending physicians and faculty are well-equipped to guide residents in the effective use of OMT during patient visits. We emphasize continuous learning and improvement, so both faculty and residents benefit from the latest OMT teaching strategies and clinical applications.

Our program is accredited with continued osteopathic recognition status. This means that we have met and continue to meet the high standards required by the ACGME for osteopathic education. We undergo regular evaluations to ensure we maintain this recognition, which allows us to offer a consistent and high-quality osteopathic training experience to all our residents.

The key benefits include:

•    Comprehensive exposure to OMT and OPP as part of your training
•    Dedicated OMT clinics and morning reports
•    Integration of osteopathic principles in daily patient care
•    Expert faculty guidance from DOs
•    Ongoing faculty development in teaching OMT
•    A robust learning environment that combines osteopathic and conventional medical training, enhancing your clinical skills and patient outcomes.

Yes!  As a designated Osteopathic Recognition resident, you will be eligible to pursue certification in OMT as early as your 3rd year of residency training. Some residents may choose to pursue this special certification after the completion of residency, but for those interested residents, our program supports their efforts and interests. Currently funding is also available through the ACOFP Foundation to cover the cost of this additional certification. Our OMT training is comprehensive and aligns with national certification requirements, and our program prepares you with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue OMT certification during your 3rd year of residency or later in your career!