Osteopathic Experience Paper

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I was first introduced to osteopathic medicine when my older sister came home eager to perform osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) techniques on my family members. We were unfamiliar with osteopathic medicine and began to wonder why we had not heard about this type of practice. My sister took the time to explain key factors that distinguished osteopathic medicine from allopathic medicine, and was able to draw my attention to the holistic patient care approach used by osteopathic physicians. Although I continued to learn about osteopathic medicine during pre-medical workshops held at Rutgers University, it was not until I shadowed osteopathic physicians that I truly understood the fundamental principles that made osteopathic medicine unique. My shadowing experience was overwhelmingly positive. A majority of patients I observed suffered from pain, spasms, and other physical disabilities. During appointments, patients were asked about work and family life, which allowed the osteopathic physician to evaluate all aspects of a patient’s circumstance. Rather than focusing solely on specific symptoms, osteopathic physicians used their understanding of how body systems are interconnected to effectively address patient concerns. With the use of OMT, physicians were able to encourage the body…show more content…
I was able to apply my classroom knowledge to real-life contexts as an intern in the Trauma and Injury Prevention Department at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH). I assisted with The Safety Ambassador Program, which links local high school students with 1st and 2nd graders within Middlesex County schools, to provide them with educational presentations on safety. Prior to presentations, a pre-test was administered to elementary school children to assess their current knowledge on safe behaviors at home, on the playground, and on the

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