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Principles regarding Osteopathic Medicine

The American Medical Student Association:

1.             AMSA RECOGNIZES the equality of osteopathic and allopathic medical degrees within the organization and the healthcare community as a whole. As such, D.O. students shall be entitled to the same opportunities and membership rights as M.D. students. (2006)

2.             AMSA DOES NOT SUPPORT efforts by groups or individuals aimed at combining the doctor of medicine (M.D.) and doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degrees, as we feel that each of these approaches is important in the advancement of medical care for patients now and in the future. (2006)

3.             AMSA SUPPORTS collaborative efforts with the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and/or the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) on issues that are consistent with AMSA strategic priorities and principles. (2006)

4.             AMSA strongly urges the international medical community to recognize American Osteopathic Physicians as fully licensed and accredited physicians with residency, practice, and surgical rights equal to that of Allopathic physicians that travel or relocate abroad. (2006)

5.             AMSA URGES foreign residency programs to accept American Osteopathic medical students with the same equality as Allopathic medical students. (2006)

6.             AMSA SUPPORTS the standardization of Osteopathic medical education in the United States and abroad.  Furthermore, we support the education of schools, hospitals, and other related institutions regarding the currently existing differences between American Osteopaths and Osteopaths in other countries. (2006)

To this end, AMSA SUPPORTS the efforts of the AOA in accomplishing these goals. (2006)