Joyce deJong , DEAN
The College of Osteopathic Medicine, established by charter in 1964 as the private Michigan College of Osteopathic Medicine, became a component college of Michigan State University by action of the state legislature in 1969. The college provides a professional osteopathic physician educational program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. In addition, the college has a dual degree program that allows students who wish to become medical scientists to pursue a D.O. and a Ph.D. simultaneously. A separate program enables students to complete dual degrees, the D.O. and the Master of Business Administration via the MSU Broad College of Business. The college offers its preclinical education (first two years) at three sites: the East Lansing campus, the Detroit Medical Center, and the Macomb University Center in Clinton Township.The basic science departments of the college are Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology. Students in these departments may earn M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. A Master of Science degree and graduate certificate are also available in Global Health. The clinical departments are Family and Community Medicine, Neurology and Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Osteopathic Surgical Specialties, PA Medicine, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, and Radiology.The college is integrated with health care systems, community hospitals, federally qualified health centers and clinical practices across the State of Michigan. The college's Statewide Campus System has been a nationally recognized leader in pre- and postdoctoral medical education.
Preparing physicians in the science of medicine, the art of caring and the power of touch with a world view open to all people.
Students who are enrolled in the professional program that leads to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree may elect specializations in Infancy and Early Childhood. For additional information, refer to the statement on Interdepartmental Graduate Specializations in Infancy and Early Childhood in the College of Social Science section of this catalog.
Master of Science
The Master of Science degree is offered by the college and the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology.
Attainment of a master's degree requires excellence in scholarly motivation and achievement. The programs for the degree emphasize a broad education and an introduction to research in a chosen field of study.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
Admission to a master's degree program may be granted to a student who has a record of academic excellence and is acceptable to a unit and the college. Units may require applicants to take and submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination. An undergraduate major or its equivalent in an appropriate subject–matter field is required. Normally, a grade–point average of at least 3.00 in previous academic work is required for admission to regular status. Students with incomplete records, incomplete interpretation of available records, or minor deficiencies may be admitted to provisional status.
Requirements for the Degree
A major advisor is appointed, and a guidance committee may be appointed, with the consent of the student to help the student plan a program of study and research. A copy of the approved program is filed with the unit and the college.
The minimum number of credits required for the master's degree is 30, including 4 credits of master's thesis research for students enrolled under Plan A. A maximum of 10 credits may be authorized for thesis research. Upon the completion of the program and a report or thesis on the research, the student takes a final oral examination conducted by a faculty committee appointed by the unit chairperson. A committee report, including recommendations about further graduate study by the student, is filed with the unit chairperson and the dean.
Time Limit
The time limit for the completion of the master's degree is six calendar years from the beginning of the first semester in which credit was earned toward the degree.
Doctor of Philosophy
Attainment of the Doctor of Philosophy degree requires excellence in scholarship and comprehensive knowledge in a chosen field of study. Programs for the degree emphasize training for original research and teaching in a specialized aspect of the chosen field of study, the development of independent and creative thinking, and the completion of a dissertation that represents a new and significant contribution to knowledge. The departments of the college which offer programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree are Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Physiology.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University, students must meet the requirements specified below.The College of Natural Science administers an interdepartmental doctoral degree program in cell and molecular biology and an interdepartmental doctoral degree program in genetics.
Admission to a doctoral program may be granted to a student who has a record of academic excellence and is acceptable to a unit and the college. Units may require applicants to take and submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination. Normally, a grade–point average of at least 3.00 in previous academic work is required for admission to regular status. Students with incomplete records, incomplete interpretation of available records, or minor deficiencies may be admitted to provisional status.
A master's degree in an appropriate subject–matter field may be required for admission to a doctoral program. If a student is admitted without a master's degree, course credits equivalent to those earned for a master's degree are required as part of the doctoral program.
Guidance Committee
The guidance committee files a report with the unit. For the purpose of evaluating the final oral examination and the dissertation, the guidance committee may be supplemented by two additional faculty members appointed by the dean. A committee report, bearing the vote and signature of each member and the comments by any dissenting member, is filed with the unit and the college.
The Dual Degree Medical Scientist Training Program is a special program for students who want to earn both a professional medical doctoral degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) and a graduate research doctoral degree (Doctor of Philosophy). The program seeks to meet a national need for physicians who are proficient in research as well as in medicine, and who will pursue careers as faculty members in medical schools and institutes.
The program is designed to select, educate, and train highly motivated students having outstanding research and academic qualifications. Trainees pursue medical and graduate studies in parallel, meet regularly with peers in seminars, and engage in medical and graduate level courses and clerkships, as well as in research with highly qualified mentors.
A student who is interested in this program should contact the office of the associate dean for research and advanced study in the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
For additional information, refer to the statement on Special Programs in the Graduate Education section of this catalog.
Postdoctoral training increasingly is necessary for students who want to pursue careers in biomedical research. The college offers individualized programs for such advanced graduate study in most of its units. Postdoctoral training is normally obtained with a faculty member who is established and productive in a particular area of research. Application, acceptance, and program are arranged by the student and the faculty member with the concurrence of the unit chairperson. Students who hold either the Ph.D or the D.O. degree are encouraged to consider further training in research, which may provide an alternative to a second doctoral degree as preparation for a career as a medical educator and scientist. Substantive financial aid is available competitively through fellowships and traineeships awarded to the student directly and associateships provided by the faculty member from a grant or contract. Usually, postdoctoral research training requires two years or more, and accomplishment is evidenced in the publication of articles in refereed scientific journals.
In addition to its disciplinary departments and interdisciplinary programs, the College provides certain specialized facilities such as the Carcinogenesis Laboratory, and the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Students who are pursuing Doctor of Philosophy degrees may make arrangements through their major departments to study in these facilities. Postdoctoral study in these facilities may be arranged with an appropriate faculty member.
A graduate study advisory committee represents the College faculty and provides advice and recommendations to the Dean on graduate study in the college.
The Institute for Research and Advanced Study serves to promote and foster research and graduate and postdoctoral study in the college. This Institute provides general information about predoctoral and postdoctoral study and refers interested persons to appropriate units or facilities for more specific information. This Institute also offers assistance in applying for extramural grants, contracts, and fellowships.
The Office for Graduate Medical Education and the Office of Continuing Medical Education, respectively, provide for medical postdoctoral clinical training and for continuing medical education customarily associated with professional certification and licensing requirements.
Timothy R. Zacharewski, Chairperson
GRADUATE STUDY
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is administered jointly by the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, and Natural Science. These colleges offer Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs with a major in biochemistry and molecular biology. For additional information about the department and its graduate degree programs, refer to the statement on the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
Students are encouraged to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program through the BioMolecular Science Gateway – First Year, where students choose a doctoral major from any of six Ph.D. programs: biochemistry and molecular biology, cell and molecular biology, genetics and genome sciences, microbiology and molecular genetics, pharmacology and toxicology, or physiology. For additional information refer to the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
Michael Burry, Chairperson
Family medicine is medical care provided by a primary care physician who becomes a partner with all family members to help them understand the ways to achieve comprehensive healthcare. This approach to medical care embraces the concept of, and concern for, the whole patient and the impact of the environment on patient health. A primary care physician becomes a partner with all family members. This approach to medical practice embraces the concept of, and concern for, the whole patient and the impact of the patient’s environment upon health.This practitioner stresses health maintenance, diagnoses illness, undertakes treatment, institutes short- and long-term follow-up care, and makes appropriate referrals to other health care providers.The goal of family medicine is to develop a competent practitioner who can provide total medical care. The curriculum is built on the philosophy of early and continued exposure to both the clinical and didactic aspects of medicine through reinforcement and integration of classroom learning to clinical practice. Student physicians are introduced to a variety of health care settings through clinical training programs designed to provide them with a broad base of skills required to function in the field of family medicine.The department, a unit within the College of Osteopathic Medicine, is committed to conducting research in both clinical and medical educational settings. Departmental research is broad-based and support for student research is an integral part of the departmental mission.
Victor DiRita, Chairperson
The Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology is administered jointly by the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, Natural Science, and Veterinary Medicine. All four of these colleges offer a Master of Science degree in microbiology and molecular genetics and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in microbiology and molecular genetics. For additional information about the department and its graduate degree programs, refer to the statement on the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
David Kaufman, Chairperson
The Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, established July 1, 2000, is an outgrowth of the former neuro-ophthalmology unit that has existed on campus since 1986. The department lead is through the College of Osteopathic Medicine. It offers accredited residency programs in neurology; fellowship programs in neuro-ophthalmology, stroke, neuro-intervention, neurophysiology, epilepsy, and neuro-epidemiology; and clinical and research programs for medical and graduate students. The Department has Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approval for its neurology residency and subspecialty fellowships. It also provides academic oversight for multiple ophthalmology residency programs statewide.Its broad research portfolio is supported by multiple National Institutes of Health (NH) grants and other extramural funding. Major themes of the department’s research are to use the eyes as a model for brain disease. It also has major research interest in stroke, neuro-intervention, muscle and peripheral nerve disease, neuro-degenerative disease, epilepsy, sports concussion and demyelinating disease. The department shares research and clinical faculty with affiliated clinical and research laboratories on the MSU campus, state and worldwide including sub-Saharan Africa. The clinical responsibilities of the department are fulfilled by on campus neurologists and neuro-ophthalmologists who have subspecialty training in a number of different disciplines of neurology. To enrich its research, clinical and educational programs, the department also collaborates with numerous clinicians statewide, nationally and internationally. MSU’s International Neurology, Psychiatry and Epidemiology Programs (INPEP) are administered through this unit and has outposts in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
J'Aimee Anne Lippert, Chairperson
The Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine represents a specialty discipline within the College of Osteopathic Medicine. The primary responsibility of the department is to provide instruction to osteopathic medical students in the areas of osteopathic principles, practices and methods as part of their preparation for the practice of osteopathic medicine. This responsibility is fulfilled through the delivery of classroom, laboratory, hospital, and clinic programs that provide quality education and experience. The department also participates in the Statewide Campus System, providing clinical training at both the predoctoral and postgraduate medical education levels. In addition, the department is committed to research, high quality patient care, and continuing medical education programs to improve the quality, recognition, and delivery of osteopathic health care to the public.
Mary Jo Hughes, Chairperson
The Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties is organized to represent general internal medicine and its major subspecialties in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition, emergency medicine is housed as a section in the department. The basic responsibility of this department is to lead the education of students via a systems biology approach in the maintenance of health and in the recognition and treatment of disease, participate in the curriculum across the continuum of years 1-4 by participation and leadership in course offerings, maintenance of clinical practice venues in which to educate medical students, and participation and leadership in the education of adult learners through the continuum of graduate medical education and beyond. Department members also participate in the administration of the college and university where appropriate. The department is committed to clinical and basic science research on a local, national and international level; the development of continuing medical educational programs for the profession and the public; and to the broad mission of improved and efficient medical care.
W. Britt Zimmerman, Chairperson
The Department of Osteopathic Surgical Specialties (OSS) include the divisions of anesthesiology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, podiatry, and urology. The MSU Center for Orthopedic Research (MSUCOR) is a research-focused group of faculty. Medical students are trained in the surgical specialties through systems courses and hospital/office-based training. Students are provided with a broad-based surgical curriculum within our Statewide Campus System (SCS) with postgraduate training in the multiple surgical specialties. In addition, OSS is committed to developing and assisting with research programs, community health services, and state and national quality initiatives. These contribute to improving the quality and efficacy of health services for residents in Michigan and the wider community.
Joel S. Greenberg, Chairperson
The Department of Pediatrics, a unit of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, is concerned with the health care of the developing infant, child, and adolescent. The primary responsibility of the department is to educate osteopathic students, interns, residents and physicians with didactic and clinical experiences in osteopathic medicine as they relate to this age group. The Department of Pediatrics has a commitment to develop primary care physicians who are responsive to the needs of the community.
The department is involved in many phases of primary pediatric care both locally and throughout the state. It has specialists in pediatric infectious disease and genetics and pediatricians with special interests in sports medicine, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, asthma, adolescent medicine, substance abuse, and chronic diseases which have broadened the scope of the department. Faculty members are involved in scholarly and research activities which provide opportunities for students and residents to participate in these areas.
Anne McLaren Dorrance, Chairperson
The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is administered jointly by the colleges of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine. The College of Veterinary Medicine is the primary administrative unit. All three colleges offer a Master of Science degree program in Laboratory Research in Pharmacology and Toxicology, a Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, and a Graduate Certificate in Safety Pharmacology. The College of Osteopathic Medicine offers an online Master of Science degree program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, an online Master of Science degree program in Integrative Pharmacology, and an online Graduate Certificate program in Safety Pharmacology.
The department is responsible for teaching the fundamental and applied aspects of pharmacology and toxicology and offers courses at the undergraduate, professional, and graduate levels.A Minor in Pharmacology and Toxicology is available to undergraduates through the College of Veterinary Medicine.
The graduate programs in Pharmacology and Toxicology are primarily designed to prepare students for careers in research, teaching, and related activities. Research interests range from the effects of drugs and chemicals on macromolecules to their actions in humans. Research strengths include neuropharmacology, neurotoxicology, cardiovascular pharmacology, cancer pharmacology and prevention, environmental toxicology, drug discovery, drug receptor pharmacology, gastrointestinal pharmacology, immunopharmacology, immunotoxicology, and integrative pharmacology.The online Master of Science programs are designed for individuals who are seeking additional academic qualifications which will facilitate their advancement in their place of employment or enhance their competitiveness for admission to other advanced degree programs regardless of their geographic location or work schedule.
The Master of Science degree in Integrative Pharmacology is an online program designed to train individuals in whole animal and organ systems-level pharmacology as well as to develop knowledge in business acumen. The program provides advanced science and practical knowledge in integrative pharmacology and is designed for individuals who seek career advancement and leadership roles in academic, government or industrial laboratories. The Master of Science degree in Integrative Pharmacology is especially suited to those individuals with some professional experience in laboratory research, but all graduates of biology or chemistry programs will benefit. Course work provides freedom to explore those physiological systems that will allow students to continue to build upon their current research endeavors, while providing skills to interface with colleagues in regulatory affairs, production, and marketing. All courses are offered online in order to provide full opportunity for students regardless of their geographic location or work schedules.Master of Science
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Applicants will be accepted into the program after review of application materials by an admissions committee rom the department. A faculty member in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology will serve as the student’s academic advisor.Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with at least 3 credits in chemistry and 3 credits in a biological science. Preference will be given to applicants with undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry or related sciences and who are currently employed in an academic, government or industrial laboratory. A letter of intent outlining the student's interests and professional goals and two letters of recommendation are required for consideration for admission.Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Integrative Pharmacology
Academic Standards
Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree in Integrative Pharmacology are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. A student who does not maintain a 3.0 grade-point average will be placed on probation. Students will be given one year of enrollment to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, otherwise, dismissal from the program may result.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, or Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.
The program leading to the Master of Science degree is usually restricted to those persons who have a medical doctorate or who are concurrently enrolled in a medical doctoral program.
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Laboratory Research in Pharmacology and Toxicology
The Master of Science in Laboratory Research in Pharmacology and Toxicology serves to broaden the scope of professional training to encompass scientific inquiry.
The student must complete 30 credits under Plan A (with thesis) as approved by the student’s guidance committee.
The program is designed to train individuals in molecular, cellular and organ systems pharmacology and provides advanced science knowledge in pharmacology and toxicology for individuals who are seeking additional academic qualifications that will facilitate their advancement in their place of employment and enhance their competitiveness for admission to degree programs. Online courses provide full opportunity for students regardless of their geographic location, work schedules, or family responsibilities.In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.Admission
Applicants will be accepted into the program after review of application materials by an admissions committee from the department. A member in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology will serve as the student’s academic advisor and will assist the student in planning a program of study related to the student’s interests and professional goals.
Applicants must:
Preference will be given to applicants with undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry, or related sciences.
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology
The Master of Science degree program is available only under Plan B (without thesis) and is offered entirely online. The student must complete 31 credits as approved by the student’s advisor. Optional concentrations are available in pharmacology and in toxicology.
The student must:
Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. A student who does not maintain a 3.0 grade-point average will be placed on probation and given one year of enrollment to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, or dismissal from the program may result.
The principal objective of the departmental Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is to prepare students for pharmacology- and toxicology-related careers. In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, or Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission to the doctoral program is conducted by the BioMolecular Science Gateway. An applicant to the program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution. Applicants who hold a master’s degree may also apply.
Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology
During the first two years of the program, the primary objective is to provide students with a firm foundation and a broad background from which they may specialize in a more sharply delineated aspect of the discipline. This objective is accomplished in two ways: (1) specific course requirements including biometry, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology and (2) laboratory rotations with two different faculty members during the first year.
The comprehensive preliminary examination is given by the end of the second year. It consists of a written examination and an oral presentation of the dissertation proposal to the student's dissertation committee.
The potential areas of specialization for dissertation research are limited to those areas which are afforded by the research interests of the faculty.
Approximately four and one–half calendar years of study beyond the bachelor's degree are needed to meet the requirements.Students must complete the following required courses for the degree:
A candidate must maintain at least a 3.0 grade in all required PHM courses.
Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Safety Pharmacology
Students must complete a minimum of 11 credits from the following courses (11 credits):
James R. Sylvain, Chairperson
Karl Olson, Chairperson
The Department of Physiology is administered jointly by the colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Human Medicine, Natural Science, and Veterinary Medicine. All four of these colleges offer Master of Science degree program in molecular, cellular, and integrative physiology and Doctor of Philosophy degree program in molecular, cellular, and integrative physiology. For additional information about the department and its graduate degree programs, refer to the statement on the Department of Physiology in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.
The Division of Human Pathology is administered by the Department of Physiology.
Jed Gary Magen, Chairperson
The Department of Psychiatry is administered jointly by the colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine. The College of Human Medicine is the primary administrative unit. The department plays a major role in integrating the behavioral sciences with the biological sciences and with clinical science elements of the professional programs of these colleges. The department’s responsibilities include: preclinical and clinical medical student teaching, psychiatry residency training, professional continuing medical education (CME), collaborating in graduate medical and psychiatric education with affiliated institutions, developing programs on CME for physicians, contributing to CME programs for other mental health care disciplines, patient care, and research. Areas of research emphasis include: neurocognitive dysfunctions secondary to malaria and AIDS, trace minerals in HIV-infected individuals, and developing research programs including some in collaboration with other clinical departments. The department has extensive telepsychiatry services to multiple sites around the state of Michigan.
Mark C. Delano, Chairperson
The Department of Radiology is jointly administered by the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Human Medicine. The Department provides basic and clinical education in anatomy and diagnostic imaging including radiology, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, CT, women’s imaging and nuclear medicine. Department faculty have special skills and interests in management, health policy, and medical decision-making. In the College of Osteopathic Medicine, faculty participate in the Systems sequence, deliver RAD 610 as a required course, and provide radiology and anatomy content for several Statewide Campus System residency courses. Other electives are offered in both colleges, including clerkships in radiology and nuclear medicine at affiliated hospitals. The department sponsors a visiting professor program for residents, interns, and medical students. The department directs an osteopathic residency program through a hospital in Garden City, Michigan. Research interests include molecular imaging, imaging physics bioengineering, fMRI, sports physiology and regenerative medicine. More information about the department can be found at www.rad.msu.edu.
The Division of Anatomy and Structural Biology is administered by the Department of Radiology.