By Elaine M. Wallace, DO, MS, MS, MS, MS, Dean of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Many of us in the state of Florida graduated when Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine was the only game in town for osteopathic physicians. We now live in a state with 10 medical schools -- two of which are osteopathic.
Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine (SECOM) joined with Nova in 1994 to become Nova Southeastern University (NSUCOM). Then in 2018, NSUCOM became the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) which is now the largest medical school in the state of Florida with 230-248 matriculants per year. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic (LECOM) joined us in the state of Florida in 2004, and is the second largest medical school in the state of Florida with 182-196 matriculants per year.
Most of you know that KPCOM is planning to open a new campus in Clearwater in August of this year. But did you know that once this campus is fully admitted that KPCOM will become the third largest medical school in the country with 1,600 students per year? It will sit two spots behind LECOM which is the largest medical school in the United States with 2,200 students/year!
This means that LECOM (all sites) and Nova Southeastern University (two sites) will train 3,800 physicians per year. How does this compare to other medical schools in Florida? When adding up all students at allopathic medical schools in the state of Florida, including Florida Atlantic University (256), Florida International University (480), Florida State University (532), University of Central Florida (485), University of Florida (559), University of Miami (814), University of South Florida (477), and Nova Southeastern University (200 – when fully admitted), it totals 3,803. That means NSUCOM and LECOM alone will train as many doctors as all eight Florida allopathic medical schools combined.
Let’s face it, we have become a force. With 25 percent of all medical students now studying in osteopathic medical schools – many of them studying in our own state -- the future of osteopathic medicine is bright. Let’s work together to get it done for Florida!
Many of us in the state of Florida graduated when Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine was the only game in town for osteopathic physicians. We now live in a state with 10 medical schools -- two of which are osteopathic.
Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine (SECOM) joined with Nova in 1994 to become Nova Southeastern University (NSUCOM). Then in 2018, NSUCOM became the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) which is now the largest medical school in the state of Florida with 230-248 matriculants per year. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic (LECOM) joined us in the state of Florida in 2004, and is the second largest medical school in the state of Florida with 182-196 matriculants per year.
Most of you know that KPCOM is planning to open a new campus in Clearwater in August of this year. But did you know that once this campus is fully admitted that KPCOM will become the third largest medical school in the country with 1,600 students per year? It will sit two spots behind LECOM which is the largest medical school in the United States with 2,200 students/year!
This means that LECOM (all sites) and Nova Southeastern University (two sites) will train 3,800 physicians per year. How does this compare to other medical schools in Florida? When adding up all students at allopathic medical schools in the state of Florida, including Florida Atlantic University (256), Florida International University (480), Florida State University (532), University of Central Florida (485), University of Florida (559), University of Miami (814), University of South Florida (477), and Nova Southeastern University (200 – when fully admitted), it totals 3,803. That means NSUCOM and LECOM alone will train as many doctors as all eight Florida allopathic medical schools combined.
Let’s face it, we have become a force. With 25 percent of all medical students now studying in osteopathic medical schools – many of them studying in our own state -- the future of osteopathic medicine is bright. Let’s work together to get it done for Florida!