Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education

The goal of an ACOS/AOA accredited surgical residency program is to prepare the resident to function as a qualified practitioner of surgery at the advanced level of performance expected of a board-certified specialist. The surgical programs accredited by the ACOS/AOA are General Surgery, General Vascular Surgery, Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Neurological Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Surgical Critical Care and Urological Surgery.  The accredited program must encompass both didactic instruction in the basic and clinical sciences of surgical diseases and conditions, as well as education in procedural skills and operative techniques. The educational process must lead to the acquisition of knowledge and technical skills, and the ability to integrate the acquired knowledge into the clinical situation and the development of surgical judgment.

The Resident Evaluation and Standards Committee (RESC) of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) is charged with the responsibility of maintaining the highest standards of training within the training programs for the Osteopathic surgeon. Accreditation serves as an indication of quality by establishing standards against which all surgical residency training programs can be measured.  

Successful completion of ACOS/AOA accredited program is a prerequisite for eligibility for certification by the AOA through the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS).