Specialty-oriented internships

The osteopathic medical rotating internship for many years represented the culmination of the making of an osteopathic physician. The rotating internship has been singularly responsible, in many instances, for our representation as the primary care profession. As recently as 12 years ago, the majority of DOs entered practice directly from the rotating internship. This 1-year exposure from classroom to practice was a trip through a required minimum of five clinical specialties with some typical exposure to radiology, pathology, and anesthesiology. The author proposes a specialty track program as part of a restructured internship.