BHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine Receives Pre-Accreditation
BHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine can now accept applications for 2024.
The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation has granted Baptist Health Sciences University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (BUCOM) pre-accreditation status. With pre-accreditation, BUCOM can start accepting students for the fall 2024 semester.
“Gaining pre-accreditation status from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation is a giant next step in Baptist’s goal of increasing access to quality health care in the Mid-South,” said Peter A. Bell, DO, MBA, FACOEP-dist, FACEP, vice provost and dean of medical education for BHSU. “We are excited to begin accepting applications for the fall 2024 semester.”
The announcement from BHSU comes just in time to acknowledge National Osteopathic Medicine Week, April 17– 23, which spotlights the osteopathic medical profession and raises awareness of the distinctiveness of osteopathic medicine. Doctors of osteopathic medicine receive similar training to doctors of medicine, including completing four years of osteopathic medical school along with spending three to eight years getting training through residencies and fellowships.
“This is exciting news for Baptist Health Sciences University and the Mid-South,” said Betty Sue McGarvey, president of BHSU. “Like many areas of the country, the Mid-South has a need for primary care and family medicine doctors, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Offering a college of osteopathic medicine will help fill the gap for primary care and other medical specialties in the Mid-South.”
The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the U.S. physician shortage could reach 54,100 to 139,000 physicians by 2023.
Dr. Bell and the leadership team of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (BUCOM) at Baptist Health Sciences University is busy onboarding additional team members to prepare for and welcome the inaugural class of 75 students. The plan is to increase enrollment over the first three years toward the goal of 150 new students each year. While students from across the country are welcomed to apply, the recruitment focus for the new COM will be students from the Mid-South area.