1. Areas Of Distinction Millicent King Channell, DO, MA, FAAO
Professor of OMM and Family Medicine
Assistant Dean for Curriculum

2. What are AoDs? Focused curricular areas of interest
Elective curricular components
Do not appear on the student’s transcript
Are recognized and included on the student’s MSPE (Deans) letter
Require significant organization and dedication on the part of the student to complete and maintain records

3. Current Areas of Distinction (AoD’s)
Humanism in Medicine – Dr. Moore
Geriatrics -- TBA
OMM – Dr. Cooley
Cultural Competency – Dr. O’Dell
Psychiatry – Dr. Forsberg
Women’s Health –
Dr. Garnier &
Dr. Olson
Health Coaching – Dr. Gupta

4. Why should I complete an AoD?
Relative to the chosen discipline, you would receive:
Increased education and competence
Expanded mentoring
Demonstration of dedication for your residency application

5. What Do I Have To Do To Have An AoD?
As designated by the particular AoD, students must complete:
Didactics
In-Person or
On-line
Community Service
Scholarly Work
except in the case where the total amount of hours served are equal to or exceed the amount required for both Areas of Distinction.” Additionally, our students participate in the TOUCH program, which is designed to promote medical students to be involved in community service.

6. What Do I Have To Do To Have An AoD?
Limitations of AoD components
Components of AoDs cannot include any already required components our the RowanSOM curriculum.
Requirements for individual AoDs are listed on each Class BlackBoard page under Areas of Distinction
except in the case where the total amount of hours served are equal to or exceed the amount required for both Areas of Distinction.” Additionally, our students participate in the TOUCH program, which is designed to promote medical students to be involved in community service.

7. Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health (TOUCH)
TOUCH stands for “Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health.”  
Started by COSGP to encourage osteopathic medical student involvement in community service activities

8. Community Service
Any hours of community service must be logged through the TOUCH site: (See last slide)
Any hours of community service completed for Areas of Distinction can be submitted for the TOUCH hours
Community service completed at an approved site for an Area of Distinction CANNOT be submitted for the required community service hours for another Area of Distinction
Clarification: In the case where the total amount of hours served are equal to or exceed the amount required for both Areas of Distinction the excess number of hours maybe counted towards the 2nd AoD

9. Scholarly Work
Topics and structure for scholarly work must be pre-approved by the academic advisor for the AoD no less than 6 months prior to the end of 3rd year but may be greater as designated by the AoD Advisor.
Additional timelines for scholarly work shall be designated by the Advisor
Final approval of the scholarly work is left to the Advisor

10. Didactic Work
Students are responsible for ensuring proof of their attendance or completion of components as designated by the AoD or its Advisor
Sign-In sheets
Will be maintained by Curriculum Program Assistant (Courtney Pitt) for RowanSOM Stratford campus only
Will not be maintained for outside didactic including Glassboro campuses

11. Didactics (Cont’d)
Students must retrieve and maintain for final portfolio
Online certificates as designated by the AoD
Attending signatures on logs for didactic sessions as designated by AoD
Pre-approval by advisor of all didactics not explicitly listed in the AoD
Notification to the Curriculum Program Assistant (Courtney Pitt) of pre- approval of all RowanSOM campus didactics at least 3 business days in advance of the event
Other proof or requirements as designated the Advisor for didactics

12. Additional Timelines for AoDs
Students are encouraged to contact the AoD advisor and the Curriculum Program Assistant (Courtney Pitt) as soon as they know they intend to complete an AoD
All FINALIZED components of the AoD portfolio must be completed and submitted to the AoD Advisor by the last day of 3rd year (academic year)

13. Who Maintains the Records Of My Work?
Student
AoD Advisor
Curriculum Program Assistant
Pre-Approvals
Community Service
Scholarly work
Didactics
Finalized portfolio until submitted to Curriculum Program Assistant
RowanSOM Pre-approved Didactics Sign-In Sheets
TOUCH Logs
Finalized Portfolio as submitted by the AoD Advisor
Proof of Didactics as previously noted
Scholarly Work
Copy of Finalized Portfolio

14. Who should I contact with questions?
AoD Advisor
Curriculum Program Assistant
For most things
Notify when you intend to complete their AoD
Obtain Pre-approval of didactics not explicitly listed in AoD
Obtain Pre-Approval for scholarly work including drafts and timeline
Confirmation that you have met the requirements for the AoD
Anything unclear in the AoD
Rarely
Notify when you intend to complete their AoD
at least 3 business days in advance of any RowanSOM didactics after receiving pre- approval of didactics not explicitly listed in AoD
Only if unable to reach Advisor by for at least one week

15. Questions, Comments, Concerns

16. Logging TOUCH hours
Print a paper form and have it signed by the community service coordinator:  pdf
Log-on to a National data site and log in their hours:  plication-StudentInfo1.pdf Students using this site need to create a Profile.
The paper logs are submitted to the student class TOUCH coordinator at the end of they year and approved. National awards are given at the end of each school year for students serving more than 50 hours in a given year. TOUCH hours are mostly awarded in the first and second year.