Total Credits: 40 including 40 AOA Category 1-A
Foundations of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field
Introduction to the Concepts and Skills Fundamental to Osteopathy in the Cranial Field
This course will be held live and in-person.
Course Director
Mitchell Hiserote, DO
Date: July 13-17, 2022
Time: 8:00 AM to 5:30 AM PST
CME: 40 Hrs (maximum) AOA Category 1-A CME provided by Osteopathy’s Promise to Children
Cost: $2,200
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Mission Valley/Stadium, 3805 Murphy Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92123
Target Audience
Medical physicians (DO or MD); Dentists (DDS or DMD); Resident physicians (DO or MD); Medical students currently enrolled at a US AOA-approved college of osteopathic medicine; Medical physicians (MD) who reside and actively practice internationally, under certain conditions; and International osteopaths under certain conditions. International DOs must meet criteria for OCA membership including membership in an OCA-recognized affiliate society are also invited to apply and may contact cme@the-promise.org for more information
Core Faculty (in chronological order)
Mitchell Hiserote, DO
Raymond J. Hruby, DO
Rebecca Giusti, DO
Veronica Vuksich, DO
Course Description
The OPC Foundations of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field (FOCF) course is a 40-hour didactic and laboratory experiential course designed to introduce practicing physicians, resident physicians, dentists, and current medical students to the uniquely osteopathic modality of cranial diagnosis and treatment. This FOCF course is consistent with the teachings of W.G. Sutherland, DO, and is a direct continuation and legacy of Expanding Osteopathic Courses offered by the late V.M. Frymann, DO.
The course didactic components introduce cranial anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and applied clinical Osteopathic principles and is directly synergistic with closely precepted, (4:1 student to faculty ratio), hands-on laboratory experiences. Thus, pedagogically addressing the cogent understanding and efficacious clinical application challenges of osteopathy in the cranial field (OCF). OCF, as presented in the FOCF course, is intended as an aspect of patient centered care applied synergistically within an integrated osteopathic medical model of diagnosis and treatment, designed to serve patients of all ages, gender, and levels of health challenges. The FOCF faculty preceptors and lecturers are practicing physicians chosen for their extensive osteopathic clinical experience, knowledge of applied OCF, and competency as excellent clinical educators to facilitate and optimize the practical educational experience.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the participant will have basic/fundamental skills and conceptional knowledge to safely Osteopathically assess and offer treatment to patients with a variety of complaints common to the cranial region. Treatment techniques will be intended either generally or specifically to improve a patient’s clinical presentation, while concurrently deepening the practitioner’s understanding and skill of applied osteopathy in the Cranial Field. Concurrently this course will offer to those of a more experienced perspective the opportunity to renew/explore a deeper integrative understanding in the application of Osteopathy in patient care.
After completion of the FOCMM course, participants will be expected to:
1. Identify and appreciate the historical roots and challenges codifying the osteopathic cranial concepts as elucidated by Dr. W.G. Sutherland, DO and endeavor to appreciate its continuity within the application and philosophy of osteopathy first described by Dr. A.T. Still, DO;
2. List and describe the five (5) phenomena of the Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM) within the osteopathic cranial concept and begin to construct cogent applications of the phenomena to common clinical patient presentations.
3. Identify common craniometric anatomical regions, specific sutural, dural, and parenchymal relationships as applied within the PRM concept
4. Demonstrate osteopathic cranial manipulative skills and approaches, within a small group setting, that include diagnosis and treatment that are consistent with accepted safe practices. Said skills serve as a foundation for future growth and mastery in the efficacious application of the osteopathy in the cranial field; and
5. Demonstrate, through open non intimidating Socratic methods, understanding of the cognitive osteopathic cranial concepts processes and purpose consistent with the foundational level presented at this course
| Brochure / Agenda (2.4 MB) | 8 Pages | Download |
| Supplementary Material for Course Manual: Exploring Osteopathy in the Cranial Field (1.3 MB) | 7 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hiserote Presentation: Palpation Lecture Lab (5.9 MB) | 31 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hiserote Presentation: PMR - Intro (6.8 MB) | 26 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hiserote Presentation: Sphenoid (7.6 MB) | 46 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hiserote Presentation: Cranial Landmarks (1.4 MB) | 12 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hruby Presentation: Building a Face (2.3 MB) | 46 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hruby Presentation: Facial Bone Treatment (1.2 MB) | 15 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hruby Presentation: Temporal Bone Treatment (3 MB) | 21 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hruby Presentation: Palpation of the PRM (497.8 KB) | 10 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hruby Presentation: Physiologic Motion of the PRM (763 KB) | 26 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hruby Presentation: Primary and Secondary Respiration (1.3 MB) | 55 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hruby Presentation: Sphenobasilar Strains (586.9 KB) | 23 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hiserote Presentation: Cranial Nerves (15.4 MB) | 54 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Hiserote Presentation: Temporal Bone (6.3 MB) | 37 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Giusti Presentation - CSF and Potency (5.9 MB) | 104 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Giusti Presentation - The Sacrum (9.4 MB) | 81 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Wolf Presentation: Mechanisms of Labor (18.7 MB) | 33 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Dr. Wolf Presentation: Peds OCD Applications (20.3 MB) | 64 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Dr. Hiserote, DO, is a graduate of Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pomona, CA., and is board certified in Neuromusculoskeletal Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine from the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromuscular Medicine. Additionally, he holds Osteopathic Cranial Academy Certification of Proficiency, and is a Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Costin scholar. Dr. Hiserote is a veteran director of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field courses at the Osteopathy’s Promise to Children and internationally. He has served as Associate Professor/past Chairman of the Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine - Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Department. and currently practices osteopathy in his private office in Sebastopol, CA. His Memberships include: American Osteopathic Association (AOA), American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO), Osteopathic Cranial Academy (OCA), Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), Sonoma Mendocino Lake Medical Association (SMLM).
Dr. Raymond J. Hruby, DO, MS, FAAO (Dist) is a graduate of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa. He is board certified in Family Medicine/OMT by the American Board of Osteopathic Family Practice and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine by the American Osteopathic Board on Special Proficiency in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Dr. Hruby completed a traditional internship at Osteopathic Hospital of Maine, Portland, ME and was in private practice for sixteen years. Retired as professor and chair of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at COMP, he continues consulting with the school’s Department of NMM/OMM on teaching, research, curriculum analysis and development, new faculty mentorships and Predoctoral OMM Fellows. He is involved with WUHS’s Interprofessional Education program, and lectures part-time in the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, among others. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy and a member of the American Osteopathic Association, American Academy of Osteopathy, American College of Osteopathic Family Practitioners, Osteopathic Cranial Academy, Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California, Memberships: AOA, AAO. ACOFP, OCA, OPSC. Cranial proficiency (OCA).
Dr. Rebecca Giusti, DO, is a graduate of Western University of Health Sciences. Family Practice Residency, Downey Regional Medical Center and is Board certified in Family Practice and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. She completed a Family Practice Residency and NMM/OMM +1 Year Residency at Downey Regional Medical Center. She has been Chair of the NMM/OMM Department, Western University of Health Sciences. She is Dept. Chair & Associate Professor of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at COMP and has been teaching Osteopathy in the Cranial Field course since 2007. Memberships and Proficiencies: Dr. Giusti is a member of the AOA, OCA, and AAO. She holds a Certificate of Proficiency in Osteopathy in the Cranial Field from the Osteopathic Cranial Academy.
Dr. Vuksich, DO, is a graduate of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, CA. She completed an HIV Fellowship, Sonoma County Dept of Public Health, Santa Rosa, CA. She completed a Family Practice Residency, UCSF Program B, Santa Rosa, CA. She held an Osteopathic Principles and Practice Undergraduate Teaching Fellowship during her undergraduate medical education and holds a MA, from Calif. State Univ., San Jose, CA in Biology (concentration in Molecular Genetics). She is currently working as a Family Practice Physician in Santa Rosa, CA. Her areas of emphasis are Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Memberships include: AOA, AAO, and OCA. She holds a Certificate of Proficiency in Osteopathy in the Cranial Field from the Osteopathic Cranial Academy.
Dr. Kimberly J. Wolf, DO, FAAP, FACOP, FAAPO is a graduate of Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ and Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP), Pomona, CA. She is board-certified in Pediatrics. Dr. Wolf completed a dually-accredited Pediatric Residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Doctors Hospital, Columbus, OH. She is currently an Associate Professor of OMM and Director of Pediatric OMM at Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Research Director for Osteopathy's Promise to Children. Dr. Wolf is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric Osteopathy, and the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians. She is a member of the AOA, AAO, ACOP, AAP, AAPO, and OCA and holds leadership positions within most of these organizations.
Dr. Hollis H. King, DO, PhD, FAAO, FCA is a graduate of Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth, TX . He is board certified in Family Medicine/OMT from the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians and certified with Special Proficiency in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine from the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine. He is a Founding Diplomate of the American Board of Holistic and Integrative Medicine. His postdoctoral training was at Dallas Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX. His internship was at the VA Hospital & Univ. of Kentucky Medical School, Lexington, KY. His Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is from Trinity University, San Antonio, TX. He is a Fellow of and Past-President of the American Academy of Osteopathy. He is a Fellow of the Osteopathic Cranial Academy. Dr. King is currently a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. He also has a private practice at Osteopathic Center San Diego. His memberships include: AOA, AAO, OCA.
All attendees for the FOCF July 2022 course must be eligible for membership in the OCA to take this course.
Attendees must meet this eligibility criteria:
* Medical physicians (DO or MD) with a current unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US
* Dental physicians (DDS or DMD) with a current unrestricted license to practice dentistry in the US
* Resident physicians (DO or MD) who are under contract with an ACGME-accredited residency program
* Currently enrolled students at a US AOA-approved college of osteopathic medicine
* Medical physicians (MD) who reside and actively practice internationally, under certain conditions
* International osteopaths, under certain conditions. International DOs must meet criteria for OCA membership including membership in an OCA-recognized affiliate society.
Affiliate Societies
The term “Affiliate Society” means a registry, association or other professional organization normally in the business of registering and/or setting standards for Doctors of Osteopathy or Registered Practitioners of Osteopathy in the country or province of origin of the applicant, that has been formally recognized by the OCA Board of Directors.
Among non-physician osteopaths, only those who are members of an RAS are eligible to become International Affiliate Members of the OCA. International MDs do not require an RAS for eligibility to become International Affiliate Members.
OCA Recognized Affiliate Societies
The Australian Osteopathic Association (AOA)
Federal Office PO Box 5044
West Chatswood NSW 1515 AUSTRALIA
General Osteopathic Council (GOsC)
Osteopathy House
176 Tower Bridge Rd.
London SE1 3 LU ENGLAND
Belgian Society of Osteopathy (BSO)
Avenue Charles Madoux 59
1160 Brussels BELGIUM
Medical Academy of Cranial Osteopathy (AMOC)
122 Avenue d’ Enghien
95880 Enghien-Les-Bains FRANCE
Sutherland Cranial Academy of Belgium (SCAB)
20 rue du Brocsous
B-1325 Dion Valmont BELGIUM
Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation of Australia and New Zealand (SCTF ANZ)
PO Box 355
Edgecliff, NSW 2027 AUSTRALIA
Syndicat Français Des Ostéopathes (SFDO)
9 bd du 1er Ram
10000 Troyes France
Union Fédérale de Ostéopathes de France (UFOF)
10 Boulevard de la Vectoire
Strasberg, France
Verbandes der Osteopathen Deutschlands e.V. (VOD)
(The German Osteopathic Association)
Untere Albrechtstr. 15
D-65185 Wiesbaden, Germany
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). This education program is designed to provide CME for osteopathic physicians and other health care professionals who practice OMM/OMT.
Osteopathy’s Promise to Children (OPC) designates this activity for a maximum of 40 AOA Category 1-A credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity. This is OMM/OMT/OPP activity and as such is part of the profession and exempt from the AOA practice gap analysis requirement.
May 9, 2022 - Update: All OPC and AAPO scholarships have been awarded. Scholarship application is closed.
Viola M. Frymann Memorial Scholarship Fund
Osteopathy’s Promise to Children offers full and partial scholarships towards the Foundations of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field July 2022 course. This scholarship is provided by the Viola M. Frymann Trust and restricted donor funds from the Viola M. Frymann Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of WesternU's Founder Dr. Philip Pumerantz. Scholarship priorities are aimed at fourth year SAAO members and RAAO members. Scholarship application period begins March 25, 2022 and awards will be given by June 1, 2022. Previous recipients of the scholarship are ineligible.
Apply in writing to cme@the-promise.org. Include a statement about why this course is important to your education or training. Is there a knowledge gap (clinicians don’t know something; a competence gap (clinicians don’t know how to do something); performance gap (clinicians are not doing something in practice) or something else? Include SAAO or RAAO membership details in application if applicable.
COVID-19 Requirements and Guidelines for Live Courses
COVID-19: Osteopathy’s Promise to Children is committed to taking care of Osteopathic Center San Diego patients, staff and learners. We are closely monitoring COVID-19 prevalence and may adjust live course attendance limits as necessitated by CDC, public health and other relevant guidelines.
Requirements and Guidelines for Live (In-Person) Course and Conference Attendees at Osteopathy’s Promise to Children (OPC) Events:
● Please review all applicable state and local COVID-19 travel restrictions, guidance, andresources before traveling to your course destination.
● Attendees are required to comply with all live course requirements and guidelines below.
● Attendees must attest that they will comply with all safety requirements and that they understand the inherent risk associated with being within groups of people in an indoor setting.
● All attendees are required to be vaccinated and at least single boosted.
● Face masks will be required indoors during instructional periods, however there may be brief periods of removal as required by the curriculum. Shields will be available for students during these periods of face mask removal for those who wish it.
● Appropriate face masks include N-95, KN-95, or KF-94 masks. A face covering/face mask DOES NOT include a scarf, ski mask, balaclava, bandana, gaiter, turtleneck, collar, plastic face shield, or cloth masks. Appropriate face masks will be available on request, if needed.
● Attendees of courses must agree to daily testing. Daily COVID-19 testing will be administered to all participants and faculty and everyone must have a negative test result each day of instruction.
● If a positive COVID-19 test result of any kind was received within the past 90 days, attendees must attest it has been at least 10 days since COVID-19 infection, and they are currently asymptomatic.
● If attendees become symptomatic or tests positive during the event they must immediately appropriately isolate, seek medical or supportive care, notify the office at cme@the-promise.org, and follow all local, state and federal guidelines.
Requirements and guidelines are in effect until further notice and may be amended or evolve as Federal, State and County guidance is modified in response to the current public health environment. This guidance will be in effect until further notice.
HILTON GARDEN INN San Diego Mission Valley/Stadium
3805 Murphy Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92123
Block of rooms are reserved for this course at a rate of $239 plus tax per night.
Click here for booking link.
Make your reservation now!
You cannot attest to your attendance until the entire course is complete (ie. after 5pm on Tuesday).
Lunch is served buffet style in the kitchen. Participants must eat outdoors [outdoor seating near kitchen].
Lunch is served buffet style in the kitchen. Participants must eat outdoors [outdoor seating near kitchen].
Group photo taken outside.
Lunch inside Boardroom (Room 124) with a movie
Lunch is served buffet style in the kitchen. Participants must eat outdoors [outdoor seating near kitchen].
The Collected Papers of Viola M. Frymann, DO (Vol. 2) - Books