Help Meet the Healthcare Needs of Rural Pennsylvania
The IUP College of Osteopathic Medicine (IUPCOM) is currently in pre-accreditation status – which means that IUPCOM can recruit and admit students to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program and is approved to teach the curriculum for the D.O. degree – and is now actively accepting applications. The college has earned this status from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), with the goal of welcoming its inaugural class of osteopathic medical students in fall 2027.
An Innovative, Community-Centered Education
IUPCOM’s mission is to increase the number of community physicians in rural and underserved areas of Pennsylvania by providing innovative, evidence-based, and rural-community-centered education. We are set to be the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in Pennsylvania, addressing a significant regional healthcare crisis. The program is actively moving through its COCA accreditation stages and has secured numerous clinical training affiliation agreements with regional hospitals and health systems, surpassing the minimum requirements.
Why Pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree?
IUPCOM’s curriculum and mission are aimed at training physicians who are more likely to practice in rural and underserved communities and who are passionate about serving those communities. Here are some things to know about the profession and our program:
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Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs): These doctors are trained with an emphasis on preventive medicine, holistic patient care, and the interrelatedness of the body’s systems, providing a broad approach to health and wellness. Osteopathic physicians believe the body is a unit and the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit. This principle underscores the holistic approach, recognizing that all body systems are interconnected and that a patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being must be considered in diagnosis and treatment. IUPCOM’s educational philosophy is built on the belief that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself; the role of the osteopathic physician is to support and facilitate these natural processes. Osteopathic physicians also believe that bodily structure and function are reciprocally interrelated. This central tenet emphasizes that the body’s structure (muscles, bones, tissues) and its function (physiology, movement) are interdependent. When structure is optimal, function improves, and vice versa. This is a key principle applied in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Rational treatment is based on an understanding of these basic principles, together with a fourth principle dictating that all patient care decisions, including the use of conventional medicine, surgery, or OMT, be grounded in the understanding of body unity, self-healing mechanisms, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
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Behavioral Health Focus: IUPCOM is committed to educating students in mental and behavioral health beyond the standard curriculum. This is a vital skill for physicians in rural practices.
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Extensive Clinical Opportunities: IUPCOM has secured more than 270 percent of the required clinical training spots (add link to clinical landing page), ensuring robust hands-on experience at diverse community sites, including state hospitals, rural health clinics, and medical centers.
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Innovative Curriculum and Research: Our students will engage in an evidence-based curriculum that includes research opportunities, innovative simulation technology, and the development of skills in biomedical artificial intelligence and health informatics.
Contact Info:
- Jamie Murphy
- Director of Admissions and Student Affairs
- 724-357-6219
- jamurphy@iup.edu
Imagine Your Future
Graduates of osteopathic medicine programs (who earn a doctor of osteopathic medicine, or DO, degree) typically pursue careers as licensed physicians and surgeons. According to 2024 American Osteopathic Association figures, 57 percent of practicing DOs are in primary care specialties. For the remaining 43 percent practicing in non-primary care specialties, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, and OB-GYN are among the most common fields. Osteopathic physicians work in various industries, including private practices, hospitals, and clinics, and can specialize in fields such as emergency medicine, general surgery, or anesthesiology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects much faster than average employment growth for physicians and surgeons, with an average of 22,700 openings annually and, as of May 2020, a median annual wage greater than $208,000.
The AOA’s 2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report provides an annual update on growth within the profession. Read on for a summary of current demographics and trends related to the practice of osteopathic medicine. What began as a revolutionary set of founding principles introduced by pioneer physician A. T. Still, DO, in 1874, has expanded into a community of physicians and medical students dedicated to caring for the body, mind, and spirit of millions of patients across the nation. There are now 207,158 osteopathic physicians and medical students. Since the AOA began keeping these records in 1935, the number of DOs has increased by 158,000 (1,721 percent).
Doctors of osteopathic medicine, or DOs, now practice across a wide range of medical disciplines, combining their expertise with a whole-person approach centered on listening to and partnering with their patients. Today, the osteopathic medical profession represents approximately 11 percent of all physicians and more than 25 percent of all medical students in the US. More prospective physicians than ever are choosing to become DOs, with nearly 40,000 medical students attending 44 colleges of osteopathic medicine across 71 campuses. DOs hold some of the most distinguished positions in medicine today, caring for the US president, overseeing the NASA medical team, and leading some of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals and health systems. About 38 percent of military physicians are DOs. Learn more in the OMP Report.
This table highlights healthcare occupations projected to have the highest average number of annual job openings between 2020 and 2030. It is intended to illustrate workforce demand across a range of healthcare roles by linking projected employment needs with education level and earning potential. Together, these data points provide context for students and prospective healthcare professionals as they explore career pathways, understand educational requirements, and evaluate long‑term opportunities within the healthcare sector.
| Occupation | Job Openings, 2020–30 Annual Average | Median Annual Wage, 2020 | Degree Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 194,500 | $75,330 | Bachelor’s |
| Nurse practitioners | 26,000 | $111,680 | Master’s |
| Clinical laboratory techs | 25,900 | $54,180 | Bachelor’s |
| Physicians and surgeons | 22,700 | $208,000+ | Doctoral |
| Radiologic technologists | 17,400 | $61,900 | Associate |
| Physical therapist assistants | 16,400 | $59,770 | Associate |
| Physical therapists | 15,600 | $91,010 | Doctoral |
| Dental hygienists | 15,600 | $77,090 | Associate |
| Speech-language pathologists | 15,200 | $80,480 | Master’s |
| Physician assistants | 12,200 | $115,390 | Master’s |
Note: An internship or residency is typically required for physicians, surgeons, and speech-language pathologists.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
Classes and Requirements
The IUP College of Osteopathic Medicine curriculum is intentionally designed to address the pressing healthcare needs of rural and underserved communities using a holistic, community-centered, and compassionate approach to medical education. The program aims to prepare future physicians not just with medical knowledge, but with a deep understanding of the social determinants of health and with the skills and competencies to transform healthcare in the areas of greatest need. The curriculum’s design is rooted in the four core tenets of osteopathic medicine, emphasizing the body’s structure and function as interrelated, recognizing the body’s self-healing mechanisms, and treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms. This philosophy is integrated throughout the four-year program through the following:
- Integrated learning: The program unites classroom-based learning in the initial two years with early clinical experiences, innovative medical simulation technology, standardized patient encounters, primary care skill development, and interprofessional team-care communication. This approach ensures students have a strong foundational understanding before they transition to hands-on experience.
- Early and in-depth community engagement: Unlike many traditional programs, the IUPCOM curriculum incorporates early clinical experiences and deeply rooted community-based involvement throughout all four years. This helps our students understand firsthand the unique challenges of rural practice.
- Focus on mental and behavioral health: This enables our students to recognize that physicians in rural areas are often the primary point of contact for a wide range of health issues. The curriculum includes robust training in mental and behavioral health, which is further emphasized as a core rotation.
- Abundant clinical rotation sites: The college has secured well over the required number of clinical rotation affiliation agreements with rural hospitals and clinics. This guarantees ample hands-on training opportunities in diverse disciplines, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, general surgery, women’s health, and emergency medicine.
This intentional design advances our students’ competencies and professional adroitness by providing a practical, real-world education that is directly applicable to the communities in which they will serve. They develop not just clinical skills, but also compassion, cultural competency, and a deep sense of social responsibility and belonging.
Preparing for Graduate Medical Education (GME)
The IUPCOM curriculum is designed to expand perspectives and rigorously challenge students, ensuring they are well-prepared for the demands of graduate medical education (internships and residencies after medical school) and lifelong learning. Comprehensive competency development is paramount so that our students are prepared to excel on national board assessments, such as the COMLEX-USA examination series, and develop the core competencies required for graduate medical education.
To cultivate a culture of inquiry, our program fosters an environment of professional inquiry and curiosity, encouraging students to engage in research and scholarly activities alongside faculty mentors. This commitment to continuous improvement and innovation prepares graduates to be lifelong learners in a rapidly evolving medical field. Our students will develop tenacity, fortitude, and perseverance through a curriculum and clinical experiences that integrate personal wellness and resilience training to help students navigate the inherent challenges and stresses of medical school and clinical practice. By training students in rural and underserved settings and by emphasizing a “whole person” approach to care, our program challenges students to think beyond hospital walls and to grow as future leaders.
Our graduates will be engaged community principals in transforming healthcare delivery in underserved regions, in addressing physician shortages, and in improving the quality of life for their patients. In essence, the IUPCOM program is a unique and challenging experience that will shape you into a highly capable, compassionate, and community-focused osteopathic physician, ready to make a tangible difference in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Preparing the Next Generation of Physicians
What Students Will Learn
Foundational Knowledge
The initial two years focus on foundational medical knowledge in classroom and laboratory-based, didactic learning in the scientific method and core osteopathic principles.
Hands-On Clinical Skills
In years one and two, students will learn primary care skills, patient interviewing, communication, and compassionate care through hands-on experiences and interprofessional team care training and be able to apply what is learned in the classroom via early clinical experiences at local physician practices.
Core and Required Rotations
The third and fourth years involve mandatory clinical rotations in key disciplines, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, general surgery, women’s health, and emergency medicine.
Selective and Elective Rotations
In years 3 and 4, once core and required rotations have been completed, students have the latitude to pick the site at which they rotate for their selective rotations, and can choose both the disciple and location for all of their elective rotations, allowing them to do Sub-Internships and Acting Internships at healthcare practices across the US and beyond, giving them an advantage when it comes to applying for residency.
Community Engagement
The curriculum integrates longitudinal, deeply rooted community-based involvement, teaching students how social determinants of health impact patient status in rural areas.
Research and Scholarly Activity
All students will complete a research project and a mandatory rotation in scholarly activity. They will develop skills in evaluating research validity and in ethical conduct of research.
About IUP’s College of Osteopathic Medicine
The IUP College of Osteopathic Medicine, which plans to welcome its first class of students in fall 2027, is unique both in its mission to address the rural healthcare crisis in Pennsylvania and in its status as the state’s first public college of osteopathic medicine. Here’s more about why the program stands out:
- IUPCOM will be the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in Pennsylvania (and one of only eight in the nation), potentially offering a more affordable medical education for in-state students, especially those with socioeconomic challenges.
- With its deep focus on rural and underserved communities, the college’s core mission is to increase the number of physicians in these areas. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on clinical experiences in local hospitals and clinics, preparing students to meet the specific needs of these rural communities.
- IUPCOM has secured significantly more than the required number of clinical training affiliation agreements with local health systems (more than 270 percent of the minimum needed for accreditation). This ensures ample opportunity for diverse clinical rotations and elective experiences—compared with medical schools that struggle to secure the minimum number of required spots.
- Recognizing the acute shortage of mental healthcare resources in rural areas, the integrated mental and behavioral health training within the longitudinal aspects of the curriculum will provide a strong foundation in mental and behavioral health, beyond what is standard in traditional medical education.
- With its longitudinal community-based involvement, the program integrates this deeply rooted community engagement throughout the four years, fostering a strong sense of community responsibility and an understanding of the social determinants of health.
- IUPCOM is focused on recruiting promising students from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education who are more likely to stay and practice within the mostly rural regions of the Commonwealth.
- The initiative has garnered significant financial and community backing, including more than $34 million in public and private support. This reflects a strong commitment—from state leaders, local healthcare providers, and alumni—to the college’s success.
In-State Tuition, Year 1
Out-of-State Tuition, Year 1
Tuition and Aid
A medical degree is a significant investment. As a public institution, IUP is committed to making a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree both accessible and a strong value. Our program offers a high-quality, patient-centered education designed to prepare you for success—while keeping your future within reach.
IUPCOM is committed to helping you navigate the cost of your education. Prospective students are encouraged to review IUP’s scholarship and financial aid resources to learn more about funding opportunities, eligibility requirements, and important deadlines.