What are touch hours?

TOUCH stands for Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health (TOUCH). TOUCH hours recognize service performed by osteopathic medical students working to impact their community and improve health and wellbeing. Activities that do not qualify for TOUCH hours can be documented as volunteer hours.


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How can I document TOUCH Hours?

Students can document TOUCH hours by using TrackItForward and logging their hours
for each event on a specific date. To document TOUCH hours, students need to provide
the event name and location, the event coordinator name and email address, a
description of the event, and how it serves to benefit the community. The event
coordinator for club events is often the name and contact of e-board members who can
confirm your participation. Please note that the event coordinator cannot be yourself.
After submitting your log, your TOUCH hours will be pending. Members of the TOUCH
committee review each submission to ensure that the activities qualify for TOUCH hours
and for confirmation of participation by the event coordinator.

When should I submit TOUCH hours after an event?

TOUCH hours need to be submitted to the online database within one (1) month of the
activity or date of service. This is strictly enforced- TOUCH hours submitted later than 1
month of service will be rejected.

What are the TOUCH Awards?

Students can be recognized for their participation at different levels:

  • Participation: Student completes less than 50 TOUCH hours
  • Silver-Level Recognition: Student who completes 50 but less than 100 TOUCH hours
  • Gold-Level Recognition: Student who completes 100 or more TOUCH hours
  • Platinum-Level Recognition: Awarded to student at each COM with highest number of TOUCH hours.

I am a club and would like to host a TOUCH approved event. What should I do?

In order for clubs to host and advertise TOUCH events, they must receive approval from
the TOUCH committee prior. Clubs should fill out the regular event form, and also email
[email protected] with a detailed description of the event and service
activity(s). TOUCH approval will be granted based on TOUCH regulations, and
instructions will be provided.

I would like to perform community service activities outside of TouroCOm - what should I do?

To submit hours completed outside of TouroCOM, you need someone that we can contact to verify your hours, list on TrackItForward as the event coordinator. Additionally, you need to provide supporting documentation such as a letter/ note with your hours volunteered. You must submit this documentation to the TOUCH tracking sheet google form. Here is a link to the form. And as always, you have to report what tasks you've done in the event description in your Track it Forward submission.

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links


Log Hours here Sign up for events here Rules & regulations info Community service documentation form DO Day of service info

*Community service documentation form service hours NOT associated with events planned by TouroCOM*