Undergraduate Fellowship Programs

Predoctoral Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellowship

The Predoctoral Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellowship program is designed to augment students’ knowledge and application of the principles, philosophies, procedures, and practice of Osteopathic medicine in both the academic and clinical settings. This fellowship emphasizes an anatomic and physiologic understanding and application of Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) through clinical and academic teaching experiences. Fellows function as members of the OPP Department, aiding in all aspects of the delivery of the OPP curriculum. In addition, the fellowship provides excellent clinical experience through a variety of venues, including osteopathic healthcare for patients from infancy through geriatrics. 

The OPP Fellowship is a highly competitive program requiring that students go through an application and interview process. Four students are chosen per campus per year. Participation in the Pre-Doctoral Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellowship extends the student’s tenure at RVU by one year. Program experiences will occur in Years 3 and 4. Each fellow will alternately rotate between fellowship duties and the clinical clerkships curriculum approximately every 3 months resulting in a six-month involvement in each of Year 3 and Year 4. In Year 5, Fellows will return to the normal Year 4 Clinical Clerkships curriculum.

Predoctoral Anatomy Fellowship Program

The RVU Predoctoral Anatomy Fellowship Program is designed to provide a continuum of the study of anatomy to the next level, as well as provide the student with tools that can be utilized to either teach or conduct anatomical research appropriate to the context of their final field of endeavor.

Two students are selected yearly for this program (each in Colorado and Utah) following an interview process conducted by the members of the Department of Anatomical Sciences. Fellows function as members of the Anatomical Sciences Department, aiding in all aspects of the delivery of the Anatomy curriculum. Recommendations made by the Department will be forwarded to the Dean of the applicant's campus for approval. 

Participation in the Anatomy Fellowship will extend the student’s tenure at RVU by one year. Program experiences will occur in Years III and IV; Year V will return to the normal Year IV Clinical Clerkship curriculum. Each fellow will alternately rotate between fellowship program curriculum and the Clinical Clerkship curriculum every 6-8 weeks resulting in an approximate six-month involvement in each of Years III and IV.

Predoctoral Simulation Fellowship

The RVU Predoctoral Simulation Fellowship is currently designed for selected osteopathic medical students who have chosen to spend a 5th year at RVU to acquire competence in all aspects of simulation medical education. Unlike the other two available pre-doctoral fellowships, the simulation fellowship begins in the student’s 4th year and continues into a 5th year. The program provides a substantial overview of the many aspects of simulation currently relevant in medical education.

The Predoctoral Simulation Fellow provides educational and technical support to RVU students enrolled in the College of Osteopathic Medicine (in Colorado and Utah), the Master of Biomedical Science (MSBS) program (in Colorado and Utah) and the Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies (in Colorado) program, to the extent possible. This syllabus outlines the dimensions of the educational experience at RVU for the Pre-Doctoral Simulation Fellow. Each Fellow will alternately rotate between the Fellowship Program curriculum and the Clinical Education curriculum every 6–8 weeks resulting in an approximate six-month involvement in each in Year IV and Year V.

The objectives of this course are to develop the Fellow’s medical knowledge, teaching and academic skills, research skills and to contribute to the general student education at Rocky Vista University. Further, the Course aims to prepare the prepare the Fellow to be fully trained to contribute to medical simulation education within their respective residency programs and future clinical practice. As such, the Fellow will enhance their value as a residency applicant since such knowledge acquisition is not currently available to other students in standard medical school curricula.

Two students will be selected yearly for this program on each campus site. The pool of applicants who may be considered for selection are those osteopathic medical students in the third year that desire to stay at RVU for a 5th year with a history of interest in simulation.