Curriculum
Integrated Medicine Model
Our emphasis on the connection between mental and physical health makes The Chicago School a pioneer in integrated medical training. Dedicated curriculum elements, including the Mind and Medicine course series and two rotations in behavioral health, underscore the program’s commitment to mental health.
Interprofessional Collaboration
Close collaboration with our Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, and Public Health programs fosters a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Learning alongside students from other health professions strengthens the educational experience and expands networking opportunities for all involved.
Urban Hub-Based Clinical Training
Access to clinical sites across major metropolitan areas that include Chicago, Southern California, North Texas, and Washington, D.C., provides an abundance of diverse patient care experiences. Anchoring this hub-based training is our state-of-the-art Chicago Campus offering the latest tools and learning resources needed to thrive in the modern medical landscape.
IllinoisCOM’s DO Program Curriculum
Our DO program is a linear exploration of osteopathic medicine, beginning with the essential knowledge of the human system and doctoring skills and progressing to the application of this training through structured, supervised patient care.
Years One and Two:
Foundational Knowledge and Systems-Based Curriculum
Years one and two lay a strong foundation for clinical practice through a systems-based curriculum and practical training in simulated settings.
Medical knowledge and clinical skills grounded in osteopathic principles
The early curriculum focuses on the essential knowledge that medical students need to grow into competent, compassionate osteopathic physicians: human structure and function, osteopathic structural examination, medical ethics, development of clinical skills, systems affecting health, and more.
Simulated practice and experiential learning
Before clinical rotations begin, student doctors apply and enhance their knowledge and skills in safe, risk-free environments at IllinoisCOM’s Simulation Center.
Years Three and Four:
Clinical Applications and Specialized Patient Care
In years three and four, student doctors put the art and science of osteopathic medicine into practice—focusing on specialized forms of care during clinical rotations.
The full scope of osteopathic medicine
Core clinical clerkships place student doctors in various clinical settings, working with real patients, as they hone the skills of various medical specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, and emergency medicine.
Interprofessional healthcare team preparation
All clerkships are designed with clinical partners to integrate medical students into the interprofessional healthcare team; the Behavioral Health clerkship provides the opportunity to learn from mental health professionals about their role in providing comprehensive medical healthcare as part of such a team.
Board Examination Preparation
Years one and two lay a strong foundation for clinical practice
Board examination programming is structured throughout the entirety of our DO program to prepare students for success on the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners’ (NBOME) Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA).
Required Textbooks
Our experienced faculty have produced a list of high-quality required textbooks that promote the same integrated care training embodied at IllinoisCOM.
Course Schedule
DO courses are designed to increase in complexity, allowing students to build knowledge and skills at a steady, supportive pace.
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar contains important information regarding key dates, deadlines, and other events.