Approximately 3,500 DOs practice in the state of Ohio. Most are primary care or family physicians, practicing in the rural areas of the state. DOs are likely found in areas of the state where there are shortages of physicians. They represent almost one-quarter of all family physicians in Ohio.
The Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA) represents osteopathic physicians in the state, as well as the 11 hospitals designated as Osteopathic hospitals. In addition, OOA supports the only osteopathic college in Ohio, located in Athens at Ohio University.
Established by the Ohio General Assembly in 1975, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine was directed to train physicians for underserved areas of Ohio. More than one-half of its graduates practice either family medicine, internal medicine or pediatrics, while more than 60 percent remain in the state of Ohio after graduation. Almost one-half serve communities with less than 50,000 residents. In the fall of 2010, a class of 120 students was admitted, bringing the school's enrollment for the four classes to 468. Of the incoming class of 2014, minorities comprise 26 percent and males 42 percent. As of 2011, graduates of the school that are practicing osteopathic medicine total 1,976, of which 1,184 practice in Ohio.
Students at Ohio University study in one of two tracks during their first two years. One track, known as Patient-Centered Continuum, works in small groups identifying issues from real patients. The other track, designated Clinical Presentation Continuum, focuses on common symptoms patients present. For the third and fourth year of study, all students are assigned to a hospital to complete training in a clinical environment.