Faculty mentor/PI email address
marquezy@rowan.edu
Keywords
Adverse Childhood Experiences, ACEs, Trauma-Informed Care, TIC, Osteopatic medical education, OME
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
IRB Pro-2024-257
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are highly prevalent and associated with significant long-term health outcomes1; however, physicians often report feeling underprepared to address trauma in clinical care. While medical education increasingly includes exposure to ACEs and trauma-informed care (TIC), limited research has examined how these topics are integrated and experienced within osteopathic medical education (OME). This project aims to assess medical students’ familiarity with ACEs and TIC at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and to potentially help inform curricular improvement efforts. This study adapts and extends prior research2 using an anonymous survey administered via Qualtrics. Recruitment targeted medical students across years and curricular tracks through institutional listservs and student communication platforms. Preliminary findings, which do not include analyses for statistical significance, are based on a sample (N = 70) that remains below target enrollment. As recruitment efforts are ongoing, results should be interpreted with caution, as they may not represent the broader student population. Current data suggest variability in familiarity with ACEs and TIC regardless of track as well as variability in confidence regarding clinical implementation. Beyond these preliminary findings, this project highlights the value of engaging medical students in evaluating and informing educational priorities. This process-oriented work contributes to the limited literature on trauma-informed training within OME. Strengthening trauma-informed competencies through iterative, learner-informed approaches is essential to preparing future physicians to provide responsive, patient-centered care.
Disciplines
Clinical and Medical Social Work | Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences | Pediatrics
Preliminary Results from Assessing Medical Students’ Familiarity with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are highly prevalent and associated with significant long-term health outcomes1; however, physicians often report feeling underprepared to address trauma in clinical care. While medical education increasingly includes exposure to ACEs and trauma-informed care (TIC), limited research has examined how these topics are integrated and experienced within osteopathic medical education (OME). This project aims to assess medical students’ familiarity with ACEs and TIC at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and to potentially help inform curricular improvement efforts. This study adapts and extends prior research2 using an anonymous survey administered via Qualtrics. Recruitment targeted medical students across years and curricular tracks through institutional listservs and student communication platforms. Preliminary findings, which do not include analyses for statistical significance, are based on a sample (N = 70) that remains below target enrollment. As recruitment efforts are ongoing, results should be interpreted with caution, as they may not represent the broader student population. Current data suggest variability in familiarity with ACEs and TIC regardless of track as well as variability in confidence regarding clinical implementation. Beyond these preliminary findings, this project highlights the value of engaging medical students in evaluating and informing educational priorities. This process-oriented work contributes to the limited literature on trauma-informed training within OME. Strengthening trauma-informed competencies through iterative, learner-informed approaches is essential to preparing future physicians to provide responsive, patient-centered care.