Tony Slieman, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State
Purpose
While many medical students excel in preclinical training, some struggle in their first semester, directly impacting their progress and board exam performance. To address this, we created a foundational enrichment course combining cognitive strategies, asynchronous materials, and case-based learning to support academic success.
Methods
Students who fail the first-semester "Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine" course must join the 16-week Foundations of Medicine Enrichment (FOMe) program. Now in its fourth cohort, FOMe serves 30-40 students across two locations (Long Island, NY, and Jonesboro, AR) and is facilitated by a small faculty team. The program includes cognitive learning workshops, 8-10 weekly asynchronous science lectures, weekly case-based collaborative sessions, bi-weekly learning reflections, and frequent assessments (12 quizzes and 4 comprehensive exams). Students work in groups of 3-5 to foster a learning community. This approach addresses learning gaps, reinforces foundational knowledge, and enhances academic outcomes.
Results
Three student cohorts from Long Island, NY, and Jonesboro, AR (Classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027), have participated in the FOMe program, with 115 students completing it. Of these, 94 (81.74%) successfully finished the program. For the Classes of 2025 and 2026, 59 out of 62 students (95.16%) successfully completed their first year. In the Class of 2025, 18 of 20 students (90%) completed their second year, and 9 (50%) who took the COMLEX-USA Level 1 exam achieved a 100% pass rate. The Class of 2027 has not yet completed their first year, but 36 of 37 students (97.3%) are projected to pass. Surveys from students and faculty highlight overwhelmingly positive feedback, sparking discussions about integrating program elements into the first-year curriculum.
Conclusion
The FOMe program effectively supports first-year medical students, enhancing retention, curriculum performance, and COMLEX-USA Level 1 pass rates. Its success provides a model for assisting struggling learners at other institutions.