All posts by Jane Johnson

I am Jane Johnson, MA, the Associate Director of DO-Touch.NET and a Research Assistant Professor with the A.T. Still Research Institute. As a statistician who is passionate about osteopathic manipulation, I spend my time on designing, analyzing, and publishing research about OMT.

DO-Touch.NET Travels to Germany

DO-Touch.NET was once again honored to attend the International VOD Congress in Bad Nauheim, Germany.  More than 400 participants celebrated the jubilee congress titled “We are Osteopathy”.  Additionally, this year’s program also hosted the global OIA (Osteopathic International Alliance) organization which is comprised of 25 nations from around the world. On the second day of the event, Dr. Brian Degenhardt, Director of DO-Touch.NET, addressed the congress with the opening lecture, “Osteopathische Grundlagenforschung des A.T. Still Research Institutes”. The A.T. Still Research Institute was also able to showcase their digital camera measurement system and advanced palpatory models which are used during Advancing Skills in Osteopathy Courses.  We also enjoyed visiting with our many DO-Touch.NET members at the congress booth!!! Thank you to our members for spending a few moments with us and to the VOD for making our stay in Germany so warm and welcoming.

August 26-30, 2019 Advancing Skills in Osteopathy Course

DO-Touch.NET, A.T. Still Research Institute, and the Research Support Department faculty and staff hosted an Advancing Skills in Osteopathy Course the week of August 26, 2019. We were honored to share our knowledge, skills, and state of the art technology with our participating group of Brazilian Osteopaths! In our newly renovated lab, participants received the most scientifically advanced training in palpation worldwide by engaging in evidence-based presentations on the neurobiology of palpation, and utilizing objective feedback to refine and standardize their fundamental palpation skills.

Member Spotlight: Karen Snider, DO

My career has been dedicated to the advancement of osteopathic principles and practice (OPP). I have worked to advocate for the clinical integration of OPP through osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) curricular development and delivery, clinical practice and mentoring, performance and publication of OMM research, and integration of OPP on national licensure examinations and ACGME residency programs.

My interest in research began during an internship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, when I was able to investigate methods of explosive detection. Research experiences continued in graduate school, where I studied potato genetics.

Changing gears, I went to osteopathic medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. While serving as a pre-doctoral OMM fellow, I was able to work with my mentor, Karen Steele, DO, FAAO, on her project assessing the efficacy of OMM as adjunct treatment for otitis media. Thus, began a continuous interest in osteopathic research.

Since those early projects, I have been able to work on the interexaminer reliability of palpatory findings, clinical correlations of somatic dysfunction, clinical outcomes and practice management of osteopathic manipulative treatment, and educational methodology of OMM.

Participating in DO-Touch.net is a logical part of advancing osteopathic medicine through research. Being able to gather real practice data from real OMM practitioners allows a much better understanding of the tremendous benefits provided by the integration of osteopathic principles into clinical practice.