"Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine (FOM) is considered the authoritative text on
consensus-based practice in osteopathic medicine and in particular the practice of osteopathic
manipulative medicine (OMM). Though OMM is now viewed as a niche in DO it is still required
knowledge for DO students even if they never intend to practice it. It is also tested in the
DO licensing exam - COMLEX - and a required clerkship rotation for DO students. FOM benefits
from being the primary reference used by COMLEX and COMAT - the equivalent to the shelf exams
for allopathic students - question writers for the OMM portions of the exam providing a
built-in audience. However because of the requirement that it be comprehensive and yet only
represent consensus practice on specific OMM techniques it has limited utility in DO
coursework and is generally a recommended reference to be used across the DO curriculum"--
