Indiana University of Pennsylvania is moving forward with plans to launch its own college of osteopathic medicine. Today, the university’s Council of Trustees approved the proposed Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine program.
The program is part of IUP’s effort to establish the only public osteopathic medical college in Pennsylvania. The proposed college already has “candidate status” from the national accrediting commission and is now working toward pre-accreditation, a step that would allow student recruitment to begin.
Provost Lara Luetkehans called the approval a major milestone. IUP has secured more than 19 clinical training partnerships, far more than accreditation requires, and raised over 48 million dollars in support of the project.
The university says the program will help address rural healthcare shortages, noting that osteopathic physicians are more likely to choose primary care and work in underserved communities.
