Innovative New Program Brings Osteopathic Medical Students to Northeast Pennsylvania
July 16 2024 - 7:55AM
Today, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
(AACOM) proudly announces its partnership with Lackawanna College,
the City of Scranton and several regional healthcare organizations
to launch the Northeast Pennsylvania Clinical Education Consortium
(NEPCEC). The first group of nine medical students from two
different Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine began their clinical
rotations in Scranton on July 1, 2024. Next year’s group is already
projected to increase to 20 students.
“We are extremely proud to be a part of this innovative and
game-changing project,” said Robert A, Cain, DO, President and CEO
of AACOM. “Finding high quality clinical opportunities is a
challenge for every medical school, and here the community has come
together to create a complete experience for our students. In turn,
our students will help bolster the health care network in the
region and establish ties that could lead to residencies and
professional practices there down the road. This win-win scenario
has great potential for communities across the country.
Particularly those with health care access equity issues.”
After being approached by members of the Scranton community,
including strong support from the mayor’s office, AACOM worked to
identify member colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) willing and
able to participate. In this inaugural year, students came
from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) New York. Next
year, students from the New York Institute of Technology College of
Osteopathic Medicine will begin participating.
About the NEPCEC
The Consortium is a group of five clinical partners and other
community groups, led by Lackawanna College in Scranton, that have
assembled a clinical education consortium specifically designed for
osteopathic medical students. Students will be provided with
living and dining options, academic and logistical support. as well
as having the clinical rotation spots created and reserved
specifically for them.
“This is a unique opportunity, not just for the students, but
for our school and community,” said Jill Murray, President and
Chief Innovation Officer at Lackawanna College. “Our long-term hope
for the osteopathic medical students is for them to establish ties
to the community, to also pursue a residency here with the Wright
Center and to eventually practice in the region.”
Along with providing housing and opportunities for the students,
the Consortium has worked hard to create quality clinical rotations
as well as finding preceptors in all clinical specialties from the
area. Both are challenges that are only getting harder for medical
schools as the number of medical schools, particularly DO schools,
continue to grow. This holistic approach to clinical
rotations is only made possible through a collaborative effort of
the entire community.
“Allied Services is proud to play a role in Lackawanna College's
physician development initiative,” said William P. Conaboy,
President and CEO, Allied Services. “The partnership with
Lackawanna and our other collaborators is essential to advance the
pipeline of doctors for our region and fits nicely with our new
physician residency program.”
Key Consortium partners include:
- Lackawanna
College is an accredited degree-granting undergraduate college
with 2000 degree-seeking students in more than 30 majors.
Lackawanna has engaged in a community-wide convening role to
develop innovative partners to support osteopathic medical students
in Scranton.
- Allied Services
Healthcare is a system consisting of Allied Services
Rehabilitation Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities and outpatient
clinics and rehabilitation. Allied Rehabilitation hospital has an
ACGME-accredited PM&R residency program with whom students will
rotate as an elective.
- Commonwealth
Health includes two large hospitals in Scranton as well as
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital nearby. Commonwealth will be
providing the majority of the teaching rotations to students.
- Scranton Primary
Health Care Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center
(FQHC) in Scranton and surrounding areas that provides primary
care, dental care and behavioral healthcare. SPHCC has rotations in
family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and psychiatry.
- The Wright
Center, an FQHC Look-Alike, is now the largest Teaching Health
Center in the nation, with nearly 250 residents and fellows trained
in each of the eight Wright Center locations around Eastern
Pennsylvania. The Wright Center will provide primary care rotations
and OMM training by its faculty.
"It's been a pleasure to work with our partnering physicians and
healthcare providers to help build an osteopathic physician
training network in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Frank
Kolucki, M.D., Commonwealth Health System Physician & NEPCEC
Medical Director. “The students we have from PCOM and Touro
University's medical school have been eagerly engaged in their
training and have brought an excitement and enthusiasm that is very
refreshing and exciting to witness.”
About AACOM:
Founded in 1898, the American Association of Colleges of
Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is the leading voice for the education
and training of physicians who practice osteopathic medicine in
settings across the medical spectrum—from primary care to the full
range of medical specialties. We support our member colleges of
osteopathic medicine in their efforts to attract and train
individuals who are fueled by a desire to make a difference in our
healthcare system by treating the whole person and building a
future emphasizing health and wellness for all people. Today, more
than 36,000 future physicians—25 percent of all U.S. medical
students—are being educated at one of our 41 accredited colleges of
osteopathic medicine, encompassing 66 teaching locations in 35
states. To learn more about AACOM, please visit our
website.
About Lackawanna College
Founded in 1894, Lackawanna College has approximately 2,000
students. The private, non-profit institution offers 8 bachelor’s
degree programs and 25 associate degree programs, along with more
than 30 Continuing Education and professional certificates. Along
with its main Scranton campus, the college offers six other
locations throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania. In
2021, Lackawanna College was recognized as one of Fast Company’s
world’s most innovative companies and also earned recognition as
one the Fastest Growing Colleges by The Chronicle of Higher
Education. In 2023, Lackawanna College was awarded the
classification of one the Great Colleges to Work For by Modern
Think.
Joseph Shapiro
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
240-938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org