Today, Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Council of Trustees approved the Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine program, which would be offered through IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine has “candidate status” from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), which recognizes that IUP has done the required planning and has the resources necessary to apply for pre-accreditation status within two years. “Candidate status” is the second step in seeking accreditation from COCA.
The IUP proposed college of osteopathic medicine team is working on the next step in the accreditation process, seeking “pre-accreditation status.” When proposed colleges achieve pre-accreditation status, they are permitted to begin recruiting students.
The Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine program was presented to the Council following approval by the University-Wide Graduate Committee and approval by the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculty (APSCUF) Representative Council.
The next step in the approval process is review by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors.
In addition, Trustees were informed of 70 courses for IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine approved by the University-Wide Graduate Committee and APSCUF Representative Council. Approval from Council of Trustees and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is not required for new courses.
“This step is a major milestone in our work to establish a college of osteopathic medicine at IUP,” IUP Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lara Luetkehans said. “The development of the program has been a true collaborative effort, focused on providing the highest quality academic coursework and clinical experiences for our future students,” she said.
IUP’s Council of Trustees endorsed the exploration of a possible development of a college of osteopathic medicine at IUP in December 2022.
There are only three colleges of osteopathic medicine in Pennsylvania, all at private universities; IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine would be the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university.
Doctors of osteopathic medicine, or DOs, complete four years of osteopathic medical school, with an emphasis on preventive medicine and comprehensive patient care. They are trained to recognize the interrelated unity among all systems of the body, each working with the other to promote overall health and wellness. Osteopathic medical schools have a long tradition of serving rural communities. Physicians who are trained in osteopathic medicine are four times more likely to select primary care specialties and almost twice as likely to practice in rural areas as allopathic (MD) students are.
National studies show that graduates from programs of osteopathic medicine are more likely to pursue primary care in rural and underserved areas—57 percent of all doctors of osteopathic medicine practice as general practitioners, and more than 20 percent of DO graduates practice in rural areas. Demand is high for osteopathic medicine training: in 2021, 22,708 applicants competed for 8,280 seats at schools of osteopathic medicine.
IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine and IUP’s commitment to addressing the rural health crisis has resulted in funding from individual donors, foundations, agencies, and legislators totaling more than $48 million. Fundraising for the project is part of IUP’s Impact 150 $150 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, raising funds for healthy students, a healthy university, and healthy communities.
IUP has also secured 19 clinical training affiliation agreements and a pre-clinical training agreement with the Indiana County Coroner’s Office, formalized on December 10, for future students at IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
Securing clinical training sites for students is part of the successful accreditation process; IUP has secured more than 240 percent of the needed clinical training spots, surpassing the 120 percent required for accreditation. Typically, students in colleges of osteopathic medicine spend the first two years of their education in the classroom; during the third and fourth years, students are based in the community at clinical sites.
IUP has signed clinical training affiliation agreements with three Department of Human Services’ state hospitals -- Clarks Summit State Hospital, Torrance State Hospital and Warren State Hospital – and with Conemaugh Miners Medical Center, Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers, Wayne Memorial Hospital, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber, Conemaugh Nason Medical Center, Penn Highlands Healthcare, Clarion Psychiatric Center, Armstrong County Memorial Hospital, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Broad Top Area Medical Center, Hyndman Area Health Centers, Nulton Diagnostics and Treatment Center, The Primary Health Network, Indiana Regional Medical Center and Punxsutawney Area Hospital.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025 and through the Impact 150 comprehensive campaign, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking to its next 150 years of student success, innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.