College of Osteopathic Medicine

Message from the Dean: Welcome to the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in California (TUCOM).   Established in San Francisco in 1997, as the eighteenth college of osteopathic medicine, the college was relocated in 1999 to our current 44 acre campus on historic Mare Island, located in the city of Vallejo.  It is my honor to serve as Dean and my pleasure to introduce you to our school, our campus and our community. More... Michael B. Clearfield, D.O., F.A.C.O.I.  Dean, College of Osteopathic Medicine

Mission Statement

The Mission of Touro University Osteopathic Medicine Program is to prepare students to become outstanding osteopathic physicians who uphold the values, philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine and who are committed to primary care and the holistic approach to the patient.  The program advances the profession and serves its students and society through innovative pre-doctoral and post-doctoral education, research, community service, and multidisciplinary and osteopathic clinical services.

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Vision

Touro University California – inspirational teaching and scholarship, transformative leadership, exemplary service.

Touro University Osteopathic Medicine Program prepares outstanding osteopathic physicians for the future needs of their patients and communities.

 

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Diversity Statement

In order to aspire to and attain the vision of Touro University California (TUC) for “inspirational teaching and scholarship, transformative leadership and exemplary service” we must embrace and dedicate ourselves to the acceptance and appreciation of diversity.  Likewise, we believe that the only way we can achieve the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine’s vision “to prepare outstanding osteopathic physicians for the future needs of their patients and communities” is to create a culture and environment that is fully inclusive representing a diverse group of students, staff, faculty and leaders.  To establish meaningful solutions, encourage important innovation, and thoroughly address the needs of a broadly diverse society, we must ensure that we are fostering inclusion, educating about disparity and social determinants of health, understanding of multi-cultural issues, and examining solutions that include the full spectrum of perspectives, experiences and opinions.

Our approach to achieve our vision with respect to diversity is twofold.

• First, in developing our programs we actively seek those from all walks of life who are the best and brightest while embracing our values of social justice, intellectual pursuit and service to humanity.                                                                                
• Second, our educational focus is to prepare students for the practice of medicine not only for today for decades to come.  To accomplish this requires an understanding of the importance of diversity that extends beyond race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status but also encompasses other qualities that embody all that we as a global society represent. 
• Specifically, we have developed  robust  programs in primary  and preventative care, global health, public health, inter-professionalism all based on a hands-on osteopathic approach that emphasizes empathy, mindfulness, the need to effectively communicate with all individuals.  Utilizing this approach we hope to close the loop from recruitment to practice, such that we will attract a diverse group of professionals who want to learn how to DO what we DO to our diverse constituency.  This is what we call the D.O. difference in diversity.

 

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Accreditation

In April of 1995, the Bureau of Private Post-Secondary Vocational Education (BPPVE) authorized Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM) to confer the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.  

After obtaining both pre-accreditation and provisional accreditation from the Bureau of Professional Education of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), TUCOM was authorized to open its doors to students during the 1997-1998 academic year.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) acted to include TUCOM within the scope of Touro College’s accreditation in November, 1997.

In 2008, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the AOA awarded a 7-year accreditation status to TUCOM, with the next onsite evaluation held in spring, 2015.

In 2015, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the AOA awarded a 7-year accreditation status to TUCOM, with the next onsite evaluation scheduled in spring, 2022.

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Academic Freedom

Touro University California is committed to the pursuit of truth and to its transmission. The
integrity of the University as an institution of higher learning requires proper autonomy and freedom.  This freedom is the freedom to examine data, to question assumptions, to be guided by evidence, to be a learner, and to be a scholar. Such freedom implies that any faculty member whose teaching is questioned should be subject to the judgment of one’s peers only in accordance with the accepted rules of academic due process.  It also implies the active, defined and recognized role of the faculty in those policy-making decisions, which affect the educational program.

The obligation of the faculty is to distinguish in their teaching between personal and partisan
opinion and convictions grounded in sources and methods appropriate to their respective
disciplines. The faculty member should, to the best of his/her ability, present materials in a
manner that respects the cultures and sensitivities of the students. The obligation of the student is to be a responsible participant in the academic activities of Touro University California.

The University further endorses the 1940 Statement of Principles of Academic Freedom of the
American Association of University Professors. Each faculty member is expected to uphold the goals, aims and mission of Touro University California.