Dual and parallel postdoctoral training programs: implications for the osteopathic medical profession

Students in colleges of osteopathic medicine have several options when considering postdoctoral training programs. In addition to training programs approved solely by the American Osteopathic Association or accredited solely by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), students can pursue programs accredited by both organizations (ie, dually accredited programs) or osteopathic programs that occur side-by-side with ACGME programs (ie, parallel programs). In the present article, we report on the availability and growth of these 2 training options and describe their benefits and drawbacks for trainees and the osteopathic medical profession as a whole.