The mission of LECOMT shall be to support and to ensure the quality of osteopathic medical education through an alliance of osteopathic training sites and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Underscored in LECOMT's mission will be its commitment to predoctoral and postdoctoral training in primary care and to provide programs of postdoctoral instruction and training in the art, science, principles, and practice of osteopathic medicine. To accomplish its mission LECOMT must:

• Achieve academic excellence and recognition for quality programs which strengthen participating institutions and benefit their communities.

• Develop and use the most cost effective and practical methods to meet trainees' educational needs.

• Respect the authority and unique characteristics of each institution while achieving maximum benefit of the academic consortium.

• Establish policies and procedures collaboratively, recognizing the interests, needs, and constraints of participating institutions.

• Maintain and reinforce osteopathic principles and practice and the commitment of providing holistic health care, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

• Continually strengthen ties between community-based physician educators and participating hospitals and other training organizations.

• Foster research and other scholarly activity in both basic science and clinical medicine, especially as is pertinent to osteopathic philosophy.

• The scope of LECOMT should include, but not be limited to, mutual collaboration in areas such as: curriculum and faculty development, trainee evaluation, grant acquisition, business ventures, marketing and recruitment.

Commitment to Excellence in Education and Research

In the planning of our educational programs for interns and residents, we surveyed our member institutions to identify programs that would enhance our members' existing educational calendars. The programming for our first year is based on a LECOMT-wide needs assessment sent to all of the Directors of Medical Education and Residency Program Directors at each institution. LECOMT offers special seminars and conferences on subjects such as Communication Skills for Residents, Osteopathic Back Pain Management, Computer Skills in Medicine, Hands-on Procedure Workshops such as Colposcopy, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, Nasopharyngoscope, and Office Ultrasonography. LECOMT has also made a commitment to integrating Osteopathic Principles and Practice within each of the training programs. With the contribution of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and their OMM Faculty, we have had the opportunity to provide on-site training to interns, residents, and faculty in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.