The mission of the Osteopathic Recognition Program is continued excellence in osteopathic training while providing a source for osteopathic primary care to the people of Southeastern North Carolina. With an ACGME accredited Osteopathic Recognition Program that provides opportunities for osteopathic postdoctoral training for both allopathic and osteopathic residents, Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center  is an excellent source of patients and experiences for training. Our Osteopathic Recognition Program offers strong support with “hands-on” learning assistance and additional osteopathic didactics that are incorporated into the residency training for Osteopathic Recognition Program residents.

History of the Osteopathic Program

In 2004, under the leadership of Barbara Walker, DO, a program and curriculum were developed for the training of osteopathic practices and principles. The Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center Residency in Family Medicine and the Internal Medicine programs, in affiliation with the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine Appalachian Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution, sought and were granted American Osteopathic Association approval for the internship (PGY-1) year. In July of 2006, the Family Medicine Residency Program received full approval from the American Osteopathic Association for all three years of Family Medicine training. In 2017, our program applied for and received Osteopathic Recognition status with the ACGME. Osteopathic Recognition is a designation conferred by the ACGME's Osteopathic Principles Committee upon programs that demonstrate, through a formal application process, the commitment to teaching and assessing Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) at the graduate medical education level. 

Acceptance into Osteopathic Recognition

1. Any Osteopathic resident, who has chosen and been accepted by Novant Hospital New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Coastal Family Medicine Residency Program and is a graduate of a COCA (Commission of Osteopathic College Accreditation) accredited Osteopathic Medical School, will be expected to have the following qualifications:
   • Applicants must have sufficient background and/or instruction in osteopathic philosophy and techniques in osteopathic manipulative medicine including:
     • Osteopathic philosophy
     • Osteopathic history
     • Osteopathic terminology
     • Osteopathic code of ethics
     • Anatomy and physiology related to osteopathic medicine
     • Indications and contraindications to utilizing OMT
     • Safety issues associated with the use of OMT
     • Osteopathic palpatory diagnostic skills
     • Osteopathic structural examination skills
     • OMT practice
2. They are automatically enrolled in the Osteopathic Recognition Program upon matriculation into the residency. This is our program standard. There is no way for an Osteopathic resident to “opt out” of Osteopathic Recognition
3. Allopathic resident acceptance into the Osteopathic Recognition Program after their matriculation into our ACGME accredited Family Medicine Residency can be based on any 2 of the following criteria:
   •  Structured basic OPP training:
     1. By the end of their PGY 1 declaration of interest in Osteopathic Recognition Program
     2. Within 3 months of the above decision completion of 6 OMT clinics done within our OMT clinic within our Family Medicine Residency clinic site
     3. 21 months to complete the Osteopathic Recognition Program
        1. Please see the Family Medicine Program Handbook that outlines the schedule of hands-on OMT OSCE’s
        2. Including taking the ACOFP In Training Exam once yearly during the last 21 months
   • Prior completion of elective OPP rotations prior to matriculation into the FM residency
   •  Prior completion of OPP course(s) at an osteopathic medical school prior to matriculation into the FM residency
   •  Other experiences, training or exposure which enable the resident to demonstrate entry level competency for participation in the program prior to matriculation into the FM residency such as but not limited to:
     1. Previous rotation with an Osteopathic preceptor.
        1. Will need to provide documentation from the medical school such as transcript.
        2. Will need to provide official documentation by the Osteopathic preceptor that they were exposed to OMT during their rotation.
     2. Attendance during medical school at an Osteopathic convocation for example OMED.
        1. Will need to provide documentation that attended the event
     3. Extra-curricular medical school rotations which allowed the allopathic medical student exposure to at least 2 of the following:
        • Osteopathic philosophy
        • Osteopathic history
        • Osteopathic terminology
        • Osteopathic code of ethics
        • Anatomy and physiology related to osteopathic medicine
        • Indications and contraindications to utilizing OMT
        • Safety issues associated with the use of OMT
        • Osteopathic palpatory diagnostic skills
        • Osteopathic structural examination skills
        • OMT practice
        • Osteopathic “boot camp” prior to matriculation into the Family Medicine Residency Program