Transitions in Osteopathic Medical Education

Health care in the United States has become an extremely complex maze. The era of a generalist opening a practice in a small town is ending as payment systems and quality- and value-based care models emerge. The health care workforce is changing to meet these demands as nonphysician and lower cost providers increasingly enter the maze. Team-based care is rapidly becoming the model of choice.

The educational institutions that train osteopathic physicians (ie, DOs) have a fundamental role in determining how osteopathic medicine will exist and be practiced in light of these demands. The present theme issue of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) highlights how osteopathic medical education is changing to meet these demands and considers some of today’s challenges in achieving high-quality education. MORE about this editorial.