VCOM Brand Guide

Titles (continued) Style Guide

• MBA Master of Business Administration • MD The doctor of medicine is a doctoral degree for allopathic physicians. Departments/Discipline Some departments have long official titles. Spell out the full name on first reference and revert to abbreviations afterward. Example: • The Discipline for Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN). Organizations: Spell out the organization name and indicate the acronym in parenthesis. Osteopathic Organizations: Alabama Osteopathic Medical Association (ALOMA) American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) American Osteopathic Organization (AOA) American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association (VOMA) South Carolina Osteopathic Medical Society (SCOMS) Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association (LOMA)

Student Organizations at VCOM: Below are organizations at all campuses combined. For campus specific lists, see the VCOM website under Student Organizations for that campus location (this list subject to change). American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP) American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI) American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists (Neuro/Psych) American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG/ACOG) American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP) American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM) Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) Hispanic Community Medical Outreach (HCMO) Islamic Medical Association (IMA) Medical Muslim Student Association (MMSA) Medical Outreach and Volunteer Effort (MOVE) Psychiatry Student Organization (PSYCH) Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP)

Abbreviations and Acronym Use

Correct: Whom did they elect as chair of the committee? Spokesman/Spokeswoman: Avoid unless gender is known. Better to recast the sentence or use spokesperson. Incorrect: Who is the spokesman for our group? Correct: Who is the spokesperson for our group? Correct: Chris Jones, speaking for the group, explained the resolution. Student Class Designation External Publications: VCOM will designate a student’s class by the expected year of graduation. External audiences will not understand the meaning of OMSI, OMSII, etc. (Osteopathic Medical Student). Correct: VCOM-Carolinas student Jim Smith, Class of 2022, was honored at the awards ceremony. Administration, Officers, Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members The most recent list can be found at http://www.vcom.edu/about/board- directors-and-administration on the VCOM website. Administration information can be found at: https:// www.vcom.edu/about/officers- administration-and-supervisors

While abbreviations or acronyms are appropriate in some situations, particularly when dealing with a long college name, title, or group, please avoid abbreviations where possible. When acronyms are used, always spell out names and indicate the acronym in parenthesis on first use. Example: • The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) joined with Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and other medical schools to announce the initiative. AOA and VCOM will be a participant in upcoming meetings. Academic Degrees In accordance with current accepted writing style, VCOM does not use periods to indicate the abbreviation of academic degrees. Example: • BA, BS Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science • DO doctor of osteopathic medicine is the preferred reference by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Do not use the older term: doctor of osteopathy. • EdD, PhD doctor of education, doctor of philosophy • MA, MS Master of Arts, Master of Science

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