Thursday, April 5, 2012

So over a week ago we were privileged to host a representative from AT Still's School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA). This meeting was very informative, and focused on both ATSU SOMA, and the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) located in Missouri. She started by giving some information about KCOM, and finished up by describing the newer school in AZ. I will do my best to relay the same information in this post.

KCOM of Missouri is the founding school of Osteopathic Medicine founded by Dr Andrew Taylor Still MD, DO. As such this school has a long, well established history of graduating Osteopathic physicians that are true to the central values of Osteopathy.

KCOM admits a class of roughly 175 students each year and maintains a 6:1 student faculty ratio. KCOM has a didactic system of teaching for the first two years of education, with the third and fourth years following traditional internships, and rotations. They do have 3 locations in Utah where you could do your 3rd and 4th year rotations, and those are in Logan, SLC, and Provo. KCOM does offer a dual degree program that offers DO/MS degrees. They have three human patient simulators, and a special class that is required each year of your education called Complete Doctor which incorporates education on the day-to-day tasks of being a doctor to help future DOs become the most competent physicians possible.
KCOM's admission averages are as follows: Cum GPA 3.48 MCAT 28

ATSU SOMA is an extension campus of KCOM. Therefore, when you apply to either school you will be applying to ATSU and designating the school(s) which you are applying. The School missions are very similar, with a focus on graduating primary care physicians who practice in undeserved areas/populations. SOMA has an 8:1 student faculty ratio, and accept around 107 students each year. SOMA only keeps their doctors on campus for the first year of education. After that year you are sent to learn in rural Community Health Center (CHC) under the direction of ATSU certified physicians. This unique program is built around the philosophy that clinical exposure is the most beneficial to becoming an outstanding physician. SOMA does teach a systems based curriculum and does offer some dual degree options.

Both KCOM and SOMA enroll on a rolling admissions time table, so the earlier you apply the sooner you will get a response, and the sooner you will be accpeted. The most interesting point of the night was learning about the Still Scholars program. For those Premeds who are in your sophomore year LISTEN UP. KCOM offers a Still Scholars program which is an agreement between the student and the University where you can earn a garunteed acceptance into KCOM if you apply between your sophmore and junior year having maintained a 3.4 cum and sci GPA. You also have to have 75% of your prerequisites finished. You committ to going to KCOM and applying nowhere else, but you dont have to take the MCAT! Pretty crazy huh? So if you are a Sophomore, know you want to go to a DO school, and would like to attend medical school in Missouri this could be your lucky chance. For more information about the Still Scholar program, follow THIS LINK!

Well that about does it. Hope that you all are doing well, and are set to finish strong on this semester! Until next time keep a song in your heart!

For specific questions, feel free to contact the admissions offices of either school. Courtney (at SOMA) and Andrea (at KCOM) are two extremely kind and helpful individuals!
Andrea O'Brian's is alobrien@atsu.edu
Courtney McCormack's is cmccormack@atsu.edu


No comments:

Post a Comment