Students – Osteopathic Founders Foundation

Osteopathic Medical School Applications Jump More Than 12%

Today, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) released its 2026 application cycle report showing a 12.83 percent increase in applications to osteopathic medical schools from the previous year. The 26,506 applications are the most received since 2021 and represent an 18 percent increase from 2024. During the process, applicants can designate which schools get their information. This cycle’s 242,076 designations represent a 15 percent increase from 2025.

“We are very proud that prospective students continue to seek out osteopathic medical education in growing numbers,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “This is a testament to the quality of our colleges and future physicians’ growing interest in treating the whole person. These applicants see osteopathic graduates practicing across the full spectrum of medicine and making life changing impacts on rural and underserved communities. It is not by accident that osteopathic medicine is the fastest growing segment of medical education.”

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The Relationship Between Required Physician Letters of Recommendation and Decreasing Diversity in Osteopathic Medical School Admissions

Some racial and ethnic groups are underrepresented in the medical field because they face unique barriers to admission to medical school. One admission requirement that can present a barrier for applicants is the physician letter of recommendation (PLOR). Undergraduate students report confusion with the application process and lack of mentorship to be two of their biggest challenges to becoming a doctor. It is especially challenging to those who already have limited access to practicing physicians. Therefore, we hypothesized that in the presence of a PLOR requirement, the diversity of students who apply and matriculate into medical school will be decreased.

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Representation Matters: OSU Medical Students Recognized for Their Desire to Care for Underserved Populations

Diego Dominguez’ trail to becoming an Oklahoma State University Scholar in Urban Medicine and a third-year medical student started years ago when he was just 12 years old on his first visit to a doctor after moving from El Salvador to his new home in the United States. That visit did not go well.

“I couldn’t explain my symptoms in a different language and unlike the other patients at the clinic I didn’t have anyone to translate for me,” Dominguez recalls.