Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is a central component of Rocky Vista University education, yet student perceptions of its value and application vary depending on clinical exposure. Global health trips provide a unique environment where students can observe and apply OMT in underserved settings, potentially shaping their future use of this skill.This study asks: How does participation in a global medical trip influence osteopathic medical students’ perceptions of OMT? A pre–post quasi-experimental study design is being employed with a cohort of osteopathic medical students from the Utah and Colorado campuses participating in global health trips to Peru and Panama in Spring 2026. All participating students on these trips are eligible for inclusion. Students completed a baseline survey prior to departure and a post-trip survey after returning. Surveys include Likert-scale items assessing confidence in clinical application, perceived effectiveness, and intention to incorporate OMT into future practice, along with demographics and prior exposure. Surveys were distributed electronically. Paired analyses was conducted on matched responses. This study included 18 pre-trip responses and 12 post-trip responses, with 6 matched pairs. Preliminary findings highlight challenges in participant matching and response retention. Limitations of the study include a small sample size, incomplete matched responses, and variability in clinical exposure across different global health trips. This project contributes to osteopathic medical education by exploring how global health experiences influence students’ perceptions of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). The findings may help inform curriculum development and support the broader integration of OMT in global and underserved healthcare settings.
