A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona explained

A.T. Still University - School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Established:	2007
Type:	Private medical school
Faculty:	176 full-time^[1] 469 part-time
Dean:	Sharon Obadia, DO, FNAOME^[2]
President:	Craig M. Phelps, D.O., FAOASM
Students:	425^[3]
City:	Mesa
State:	Arizona
Country:	United States

A.T. Still University - School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) is a private medical school in Mesa, Arizona. It was established in 2007 as the Arizona campus of A.T. Still University. A.T. Still University (ATSU) is the original founding institution of osteopathic healthcare, established in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still in Kirksville, Missouri.

SOMA is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).^[4]

Campus

The medical program operates out of a 100000square feet building on the 22acres campus of A.T. Still University in Mesa. The campus is the anchor of the Arizona Health & Technology Park, a 132acres education, healthcare, and technology triangle owned by ATSU and Vanguard Health Systems. The master plan for the new park includes hospitals, long-term care facilities, professional offices, and product development research facilities.

The campus is also home to the ATSU-Arizona School of Health Sciences, ATSU-Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, and the 32000square feet East Valley Family YMCA.^[5]

Academics

The curriculum at ATSU-SOMA is unique in that all of the clinical education is based at one of twelve community health centers throughout the country.^[6]

Training

ATSU-SOMA uses the Clinical Presentation Educational Model which teaches that there are about 120 different ways that a patient can present themself to a physician. The teaching method was based on a method developed in 1994 by the University of Calgary.^[7] Basic sciences are coupled with clinical sciences so that the students have a more comprehensive and practical foundation for each medical discipline.^[8] The curriculum design emphasizes clinical competencies which allows students to enter residency programs with greater experience with chronic disease than students educated in the majority of tertiary care-oriented academic health centers.^[7]

Community Health Center locations

ATSU-SOMA is unique in that the first year is spent at the Mesa campus and the last three years at one of many community health centers. As of 2021, ATSU-SOMA offers 16 community health center opportunities in such locations as (Alphabetically, by State):^[9]

• ARIZONA
  • North Country Healthcare – Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Adelante Healthcare – Phoenix, Arizona
  • El Rio Community Health Center – Tucson, Arizona
• CALIFORNIA
  • Community Health Center of the Central Coast, Inc – Santa Maria, California
  • San Ysidro Health Center – San Ysidro, California
  • Family Healthcare Network – Tulare County, California
• HAWAII
  • Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center – Wai'anae, Oahu, Hawaii
• ILLINOIS
  • Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation – Centreville, Illinois
  • Near North Health Service Corporation – Chicago, Illinois
• NEW YORK
  • Sunset Park Family Health Center – Brooklyn, New York
• OHIO
  • HealthSource of Ohio – Mt Orab, Ohio
• OREGON
  • Northwest Regional Primary Care Association – Portland, Oregon
• PENNSYLVANIA
  • The Wright Center for Community Health – Scranton, Pennsylvania
• SOUTH CAROLINA
  • Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health Services – Ridgeland, South Carolina
• WASHINGTON
  • Health Point (previously Community Health Centers of King County) – Suburban Seattle, Washington

See also

• A.T. Still University
• List of medical schools in the United States

Notes and References

1. Web site: Academic Fast Facts - School of Osteopathic Medicine - A.T. Still University . Atsu.edu . 2012-05-26.
2. Web site: Faculty & Staff. A.T. Still University.
3. Web site: A.T. Still University–School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.
4. Web site: ATSU-SOMA receives full accreditation status . ATSU News Releases . 1 June 2011 . 9 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110823051940/http://news.atsu.edu/index.php/archives/1158 . 23 August 2011 . dead .
5. Web site: Entries tagged with "Arizona Health & Technology Park" » » News Releases – A.T. Still University . News.atsu.edu . 2012-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322201601/http://news.atsu.edu/index.php/archives/tag/arizona-health-technology-park . 2012-03-22 . dead .
6. Chen . Candice . Mullan . Fitzhugh . The separate osteopathic medical education pathway: uniquely addressing national needs. Point. . Academic Medicine . June 2009 . 84 . 6 . 695 . 19474535 . 3 November 2012 . 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181a3dd28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100731084454/http://www.creighton.edu/fileadmin/user/CCAS/prehealth/PMED/PMED_300/Applying/The_Separate_Osteopathic_Medical_Education.8.pdf . 31 July 2010 . free .
7. Web site: Faculty Interview: ATSU-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona . 10 November 2008 . The Student Doctor Network . 17 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110623091514/http://www.studentdoctor.net/2008/11/faculty-interview-atsu-school-of-osteopathic-medicine-in-arizona/ . 23 June 2011 . dead .
8. Web site: Student D.O. Day at ATSU-SOMA Flyer . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726002733/http://www.maricopa.edu/academic/ccta/newsletter/jan11/DO-Day-2010-2011.pdf . 2011-07-26 .
9. Web site: ATSU School of Osteopathic Medicine Arizona. 2021-03-04. www.atsu.edu.