Essential CV Building Tips for DO Graduates in Family Medicine Residency

Understanding the Role of the CV for a DO Graduate in Family Medicine

For a DO graduate targeting a family medicine residency, your CV is more than a list of experiences—it is a strategic document that tells program directors, “This is who I am as a future family physician.” It complements your ERAS application and personal statement and can be requested for away rotations, letters of recommendation, scholarships, and sometimes directly by residency coordinators.

Because family medicine values breadth, continuity of care, community engagement, and a holistic approach, the way you build your CV should highlight these strengths. As a DO graduate, you also have a unique advantage: your osteopathic training in whole-person care aligns extremely well with the values of family medicine. Your CV should make that obvious.

This guide will walk you through how to build a competitive medical student CV specifically for the FM match, with a focus on DO graduates. You’ll see concrete residency CV tips, section-by-section breakdowns, and examples tailored to family medicine.

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Core Principles of a Strong Residency CV

Before you dive into formatting and content, keep these core principles in mind:

1. Clarity and Professionalism

Program directors skim—often for less than a minute on the first pass. Your CV has to be:

• Easy to read (clear headings, consistent formatting)
• Free of typos and grammar mistakes
• Organized in logical sections (education, experiences, research, leadership, etc.)

Avoid creative fonts or graphic-heavy templates. Clean and classic wins for residency applications.

2. Relevance to Family Medicine

Every section should reinforce that you are a good fit for family medicine residency:

• Ambulatory and primary care experiences
• Community health or underserved work
• Longitudinal continuity experiences (e.g., free clinics, continuity clinics)
• Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM/OMT) when applied in primary care settings

Ask yourself for each item: “Does this help someone see me as a future family physician?” If not, trim or minimize it.

3. Honesty and Verifiability

All information on your residency CV must be:

• Accurate and up to date
• Verifiable (with supervisors, dates, institutions)
• Honestly described (no inflated titles, no made-up roles)

You may be asked about any entry during an interview. If you cannot comfortably explain it, don’t include it.

4. Strategic Emphasis for DO Graduates

As a DO graduate, some unique strengths to emphasize:

• Osteopathic principles and philosophy in patient care
• OMT/OMM skills used in clinical contexts
• Integrated mind–body–spirit perspective
• Collaborative, team-based care experiences

In the osteopathic residency match era and now fully integrated match environment, many family medicine programs value DO training precisely because it aligns with primary care needs. Make that alignment explicit.

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Essential Structure: How to Build a CV for Family Medicine Residency

The structure below works very well for a DO graduate applying to family medicine residency. You can adapt the order based on your strengths, but this is a solid standard:

1. Contact Information
2. Education
3. USMLE/COMLEX and Certifications (optional / brief)
4. Clinical Experiences (Medical School & Additional)
5. Research & Scholarly Activity
6. Leadership & Professional Involvement
7. Teaching & Mentoring
8. Volunteer & Community Service
9. Honors & Awards
10. Professional Skills (including OMT and languages)
11. Interests (brief, but intentional)

Let’s break down each section with examples and residency CV tips.

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1. Contact Information

Keep this concise and professional at the top of your CV:

• Full name (as used in ERAS)
• Professional email (e.g., firstname.lastname@domain.com)
• Mobile phone number
• Current city and state
• LinkedIn profile (optional, if polished and consistent)

Do NOT include:

• Photo
• Date of birth
• Marital status
• Immigration status (unless specifically requested elsewhere)

Example:

John A. Smith, DO
Email: john.smith@medschool.edu | Phone: (555) 555-5555
Location: Columbus, OH
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsmithdo

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2. Education

For a DO graduate residency CV, this section is straightforward but must be precise.

List in reverse chronological order:

• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
• Undergraduate degree(s)
• Graduate degrees (if any)
• Selected post-baccalaureate programs (if formal)

Include:

• Institution name, city, state
• Degree earned
• Dates attended (or anticipated graduation)
• Honors (e.g., cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) if major

Example:

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Midwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Chicago, IL
2019 – 2023

Bachelor of Science in Biology, magna cum laude
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
2015 – 2019

Do not list high school; it is unnecessary for residency applications.

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3. Exams and Certifications (Optional but Helpful)

This section can be brief, and some applicants omit scores, especially if lower than desired. However, including exam passage and key certifications on your medical student CV shows completeness.

Consider listing:

• COMLEX-USA Level 1, 2-CE, 2-PE (if applicable), 3 (if taken early)
• USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK (if taken)
• BLS, ACLS, PALS (and expiration dates)
• Any other clinical certifications (e.g., ATLS, NRP if relevant to FM)

Example:

Licensure Exams
COMLEX-USA Level 1 – Passed, June 2021
COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE – Passed, July 2022
USMLE Step 1 – Passed, June 2021

Certifications
Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, Expires 06/2026
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), American Heart Association, Expires 06/2026

Avoid listing detailed scores on the CV unless programs specifically request them, or your scores significantly strengthen your application.

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4. Clinical Experiences: Highlighting Family Medicine Strengths

For a DO graduate in the FM match, this is your most important section. It should focus on:

• Core third-year rotations
• Sub-internships / acting internships (especially family medicine)
• Electives relevant to primary care or continuity care
• OMT/OMM clinics where you applied osteopathic principles in patient care

Organize in reverse chronological order and, ideally, separate into:

• Family Medicine & Primary Care Rotations
• Other Clinical Rotations

For each experience, include:

• Rotation title (e.g., “Family Medicine Sub-Internship”)
• Institution/clinic, city, state
• Dates (month/year – month/year)
• Brief description (2–4 bullet points focusing on scope, responsibility, skills)

Example (Family Medicine Focus):

Family Medicine Sub-Internship
Riverside Community Hospital Family Medicine Residency, Riverside, CA
August 2022

• Managed panel of 8–10 patients daily in inpatient and outpatient settings under supervision of attending physicians and senior residents.
• Performed focused histories and physicals, developed assessment and plans, and presented on rounds.
• Provided continuity care in clinic for patients with chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and COPD.
• Incorporated osteopathic structural exams and OMT for patients with low back pain and headache when appropriate.

Core Family Medicine Clerkship
Community Health Family Practice, Columbus, OH
January 2022 – February 2022

• Participated in outpatient visits across the lifespan from pediatric well checks to geriatric chronic disease management.
• Counseled patients on preventive health measures, including vaccinations, diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.
• Assisted in common office procedures (joint injections, skin biopsies, Pap smears).
• Observed and practiced documentation in an outpatient EMR system.

For non-FM rotations (e.g., internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry), be selective; emphasize aspects relevant to family medicine:

• Chronic disease management
• Women’s health and prenatal care
• Pediatric primary care and well-visits
• Behavioral health, substance use disorders
• Geriatrics and end-of-life discussions

Avoid long procedure lists that don’t add to a family medicine profile (unless you are emphasizing procedural FM interests).

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Building Out Your Scholarly and Professional Profile

5. Research and Scholarly Activity

Not all family medicine applicants have extensive research, and that is acceptable. However, if you have any scholarly work, you should present it clearly.

Include:

• Peer-reviewed publications
• Conference posters or oral presentations
• Quality improvement (QI) projects
• Case reports
• Book chapters or major writing projects
• OMT-related research or QI

Use consistent citation formatting (e.g., AMA style). Separate sections can be helpful:

• Peer-Reviewed Publications
• Posters and Presentations
• Quality Improvement and Scholarly Projects

Example:

Peer-Reviewed Publications
Smith JA, Lee R, Patel S. Improving blood pressure control in a community family medicine clinic using a team-based approach. J Fam Med Primary Care. 2023;10(2):123–129.

Posters and Presentations
Smith JA, Nguyen L. “Use of OMT for Chronic Low Back Pain in a Family Medicine Residency Clinic.” Poster presented at: American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Annual Conference; March 2022; Chicago, IL.

Quality Improvement Projects
Improving Diabetes Foot Exam Rates in a Student-Run Free Clinic
Student-Run Free Clinic, Midwest University COM, Chicago, IL
May 2021 – December 2021

• Implemented standardized diabetic foot exam template within the EMR.
• Increased documented exam rates from 45% to 80% in 6 months.
• Presented findings at institutional QI day.

If your research is limited, a single combined heading “Research & Scholarly Activity” is fine. Emphasize how projects relate to family medicine: primary care, prevention, community health, OMT in outpatient care, etc.

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6. Leadership and Professional Involvement

Residency programs value leadership potential, especially in family medicine where teamwork, advocacy, and community engagement are central. This section can significantly strengthen your family medicine residency application.

Include:

• Positions in student organizations (officer roles)
• Family medicine interest group leadership
• Osteopathic student government roles (SOMA, SGA)
• Committee memberships (curriculum, DEI, wellness)
• ACOFP or AAFP student leadership positions

Structure:

• Role title
• Organization, institution
• Dates
• 2–3 bullets describing impact and responsibilities

Example:

President, Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG)
Midwest University COM, Chicago, IL
May 2021 – April 2022

• Organized 8 educational events focused on careers in family medicine, procedural skills workshops, and residency preparation.
• Coordinated shadowing opportunities at community family medicine clinics for 30+ first- and second-year medical students.
• Collaborated with AAFP student chapter to host annual community health fair serving 200+ local residents.

Class Representative, Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)
Midwest University COM, Chicago, IL
August 2020 – May 2021

• Advocated for osteopathic-focused educational resources and OMT lab improvements to the curriculum committee.
• Facilitated communication between students and administration regarding academic and wellness concerns.

Highlight leadership roles that demonstrate initiative, teamwork, and sustained involvement—qualities that predict success in family medicine residency.

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7. Teaching and Mentoring

Family medicine physicians often teach—patients, learners, and community members. Programs like to see early evidence of these skills.

Include:

• Peer tutoring (e.g., anatomy, OMT, pathophysiology)
• Teaching assistant roles
• OSCE or clinical skills facilitators
• Community health education (e.g., diabetes classes, smoking cessation groups)
• Pre-med or undergraduate mentoring

Example:

Peer Tutor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Midwest University COM, Chicago, IL
September 2020 – May 2022

• Provided weekly small-group OMT review sessions for first-year medical students.
• Developed practice cases integrating structural exams with patient-centered communication.
• Received consistently high anonymous evaluations (average 4.8/5).

Community Health Educator, Diabetes Self-Management Classes
Community Health Center of Chicago, Chicago, IL
January 2021 – December 2021

• Co-led monthly group sessions focused on diet, medication adherence, and monitoring for patients with type 2 diabetes.
• Adapted educational materials to match health literacy needs of a diverse patient population.

These experiences show your ability to communicate complex concepts clearly, a core competency in family medicine.

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Community Engagement, Volunteer Work, and the “Family Medicine Personality”

8. Volunteer and Community Service

Family medicine is deeply rooted in community health. Your osteopathic residency match profile will be stronger if your CV demonstrates genuine service and outreach.

Include:

• Free clinic work
• Health fairs and screenings
• Work with underserved or rural populations
• Public health or outreach programs
• Longitudinal service commitments (rather than one-off events)

Example:

Volunteer Clinician, Student-Run Free Clinic
Hope Community Free Clinic, Chicago, IL
August 2020 – May 2023

• Participated in weekly clinics providing primary care services to uninsured and underinsured adults.
• Conducted histories and physical exams, developed assessment and plans under attending supervision.
• Integrated OMT for musculoskeletal complaints when appropriate, with high patient satisfaction.

Volunteer, Annual Community Health Fair
Sponsored by ACOFP Student Chapter, Chicago, IL
2019 – 2022 (Yearly Event)

• Performed blood pressure and glucose screenings for community members.
• Provided counseling on lifestyle modification and follow-up with primary care providers.

In your descriptions, tie service experiences back to FM competencies: continuity care, prevention, team-based care, cultural humility, and communication.

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9. Honors, Awards, and Distinctions

Even if you do not have national awards, highlight relevant recognition:

• Dean’s List, academic scholarships
• Induction into honor societies (Sigma Sigma Phi, Gold Humanism Honor Society)
• Awards for community service or leadership
• OMT/OMM excellence awards
• Family medicine–specific scholarships or recognitions

Example:

Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductee
Midwest University COM, Chicago, IL
2022

Outstanding Student in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Midwest University COM, Department of OMM
2021

Include the year and a brief phrase if needed to clarify the nature of the award.

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10. Professional Skills: Make Your DO Training Visible

This section is where you can integrate important elements of your DO identity and practical competencies relevant to a family medicine residency.

Subsections can include:

• Clinical Skills
• Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) Skills
• Languages
• Technical / Informatics Skills

Example:

Clinical Skills

• Outpatient management of common primary care conditions (HTN, T2DM, asthma, depression) under supervision
• Office-based procedures: joint injections (shoulder, knee), skin biopsies, I&D, Pap smears, simple suturing
• Motivational interviewing and brief behavioral counseling (smoking cessation, weight management)

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)

• Proficient in muscle energy, counterstrain, and HVLA for spine and pelvis.
• Experience integrating OMT into outpatient visits for musculoskeletal pain and headaches.

Languages

• Spanish – Conversational (able to conduct basic patient interviews and counseling)

Technical Skills

• Experience with multiple EMRs (Epic, Cerner).
• Basic proficiency in Excel for data analysis and QI tracking.

Keep this section honest and concise. Do not overstate language ability or procedural expertise; you may be tested on them informally or in conversation.

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11. Interests: Humanizing Your Application

A short interests section helps interviewers connect with you personally and can shape the tone of your interviews. For a family medicine residency, consider interests that reflect:

• Wellness and balance
• Community or team involvement
• Long-term hobbies (showing commitment)
• Cultural or language interests

Example:

Interests
Community gardening and urban agriculture; long-distance running; cooking and adapting traditional recipes for heart-healthy diets; mentoring pre-medical students.

Avoid very generic lists (“reading, traveling, movies”) and avoid anything controversial. 2–5 items are sufficient.

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Formatting and Presentation: Residency CV Tips That Matter

Length and Organization

For a DO graduate applying to family medicine:

• 2–4 pages is typical and acceptable
• Earlier in training (M3/M4): 2–3 pages
• With additional degrees or extensive research: up to 4 pages

Key points:

• Use clear section headings (bold, slightly larger font)
• Use consistent bullet style (e.g., round bullets) and date formatting
• Maintain reverse chronological order within each section
• Use professional fonts (e.g., Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, 10–12 pt)

Language and Style

Use:

• Strong, active verbs (managed, led, developed, implemented, coordinated, taught, counseled)
• Concrete outcomes when possible (e.g., “increased…” “reduced…” “served X patients”)
• First-person implied but not stated (no “I”)

Example bullet transformation:

• Weak: “Helped with clinic tasks.”
• Strong: “Coordinated patient intake and pre-visit screenings for 15–20 patients per clinic session.”

Tailoring for Specific Programs

While your core CV stays the same, you can:

• Emphasize rural/underserved work if applying to rural FM programs
• Highlight OMT skills more for osteopathic-friendly or OMT-heavy programs
• Feature OB/women’s health or procedures if seeking full-spectrum FM programs

Also consider having a slightly expanded “academic CV” if you are applying to programs with strong research emphasis or combined FM-public health tracks.

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Common Mistakes DO Graduates Make on Their Family Medicine CV

Avoid these pitfalls:

1. Listing everything since high school
   Residency programs don’t need high school jobs or every club you ever joined. Focus on medical school and recent, relevant undergraduate experiences.

2. Overloading non-relevant activities
   Long lists of unrelated jobs or hobbies can distract from your family medicine narrative.

3. Under-selling osteopathic training
   DO graduates sometimes minimize OMT or osteopathic philosophy on their CV. In family medicine, this is often a strength—show how you apply it in patient care.

4. Vague experience descriptions
   Bullets like “Participated in patient care” say almost nothing. Be specific about responsibilities, populations served, and skills developed.

5. Inconsistent formatting
   Mismatched fonts, uneven spacing, inconsistent date formats, and alignment errors make your CV look unpolished.

6. Typos and grammatical errors
   Proofread carefully and have at least one trusted mentor, faculty member, or advisor review it.

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Putting It All Together: Strategy for the Osteopathic Residency Match in FM

As a DO graduate applying to family medicine, your CV should:

• Make it immediately clear that FM is your intended specialty
• Show sustained interest in primary care, community health, and continuity care
• Highlight osteopathic identity and OMT skills where relevant
• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and communication skills through leadership, teaching, and service

Align your CV with other parts of your application:

• Personal statement: Tell the story behind your CV—why family medicine, how your experiences shaped your goals.
• Letters of recommendation: Request letters from family medicine and primary care attendings who can speak to the experiences listed on your CV.
• Interview talking points: Be ready to expand on every major item in your CV with specific examples and reflections.

Ultimately, a strong residency CV for family medicine is not about having the “fanciest” experiences; it’s about presenting a coherent, honest picture of yourself as a future family physician who understands and embraces the specialty’s core values.

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FAQs: CV Building for DO Graduates in Family Medicine

1. How is a residency CV different from a standard ERAS application?
The ERAS application uses structured fields, while your CV is a free-form, narrative document. Many programs primarily rely on ERAS, but your CV may be requested directly, used for visiting student rotations, letters of recommendation, or networking with faculty. A well-constructed CV also helps you complete ERAS more efficiently and consistently, since your experiences are already organized and described.

2. Should I separate osteopathic and allopathic exam scores on my CV?
Yes. Clearly label COMLEX and USMLE scores separately, e.g., “COMLEX-USA Level 1 – Passed” and “USMLE Step 1 – Passed.” Some DO graduates in the osteopathic residency match era only had COMLEX scores; today, if you have both, list both. If you prefer not to list scores, you can simply indicate “Passed” and let ERAS carry the numeric values.

3. How far back should I go with experiences on my CV?
Focus primarily on medical school and late undergraduate experiences that are relevant to medicine, family medicine, or your professional development. Significant pre-medical activities (research assistant, scribe, major leadership roles) can be included, especially if they show continuity of interest in primary care. High school experiences should almost never appear on a residency CV.

4. I don’t have research; can I still be competitive for family medicine?
Yes. Many family medicine programs do not require extensive research. Your CV can be very strong if it emphasizes clinical excellence, community service, leadership, and teaching. If you have small QI projects or case reports, list them under “Scholarly Activity” even if they are not formal research. For FM, a consistent record of service, communication skills, and primary care commitment often matters more than a heavy research portfolio.

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By approaching your CV deliberately—highlighting family medicine–relevant experiences, clearly presenting your DO training, and maintaining a professional, organized format—you significantly strengthen your application and present yourself as a compelling candidate for family medicine residency.