Nickolas Meier, OMS-IV
Education: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Middletown Campus
Hometown: Ellenville, New York

December 2017

As Osteopathic Physicians, we are currently at a crossroads. One direction could allow us to bring Osteopathy to the forefront of medicine, and the other unfortunately could potentially allow it to only be a medical practice of the past. As we have pushed towards a unified graduate medical education accreditation system, I cannot help but remember an eerily similar situation that occurred in California in the 1960’s.  A deal that sought to end DOs forever.  How we proceed from here, will most likely determine the future of Osteopathic training as we know it.

As many of you reading this, I went to an Osteopathic medical school, where I learned more about the wonders of the human body than I could have ever thought possible.  And even more importantly, I learned that I still have much knowledge to gain.  And in school there seemed to be two opinions that formed over the course of our training.  There were students who were passionate and believed in the principles of Osteopathy, and then there were the skeptics and non-believers.  I happen to be one of the passionate believers.

With all of that being stated, I think everyone would benefit from a rotation in OMM at St. Barnabas Hospital.  When you are there, you cannot help but feel like the spirit of A.T. Still wanders the halls and smiles on all the healing that is occurring.

I cannot say enough positive things about my elective OMM rotation at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.  I gained so much knowledge and started to develop an even greater appreciation for the teachings of Osteopathic Medicine first begun by A.T. Still himself.  When I left my rotation, I could feel so much more with my hands.  I could listen to a patient’s body.  I became confident in my diagnosis and my treatment of patients’ ailments.  And I began to treat things that I never thought would be possible, that went beyond just doing musculoskeletal work on the human body.

Dr. Ettlinger, and all the residents are extremely welcoming, and their knowledge base is second to none.

During your rotation you will have the opportunity to work paired with a resident treating in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.  You will have intellectual discussions about Osteopathic principles, the life of A.T. Still, and about healing and treatment of disease.

I guarantee that if you go with an open mind, you will be blown away by all that you can see, learn, and accomplish in one short month.  The skeptic will become a believer, and the believer will grow in passion.  And if you rotate here, you will absolutely make it your mission to bring Osteopathic healing to the forefront of medicine and medical training.