A new partnership with Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) is creating more opportunities for Linfield University students to pursue a doctorate in osteopathic medicine.
Academic leadership from Linfield and WesternU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) signed a memorandum of understanding that guarantees qualified graduating Linfield students an interview during the medical school admissions process.
The new pathway gives qualified Linfield graduates a major advantage in the admission process. Currently, COMP-Northwest interviews just 10% of applicants, but around half of those who interview with the school are offered admission.
Founded in Pomona, California in 1977, WesternU has expanded to offer degrees in veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy and podiatric medicine, among others. They opened their Oregon campus, home to COMP-Northwest, in 2011.
“There are many overlaps between M.D.s and D.O.s. The structure and the science are exactly the same; it’s a four-year program, followed by graduate medical education, more commonly known as a ‘residency,’” said Luke Rauch ’97, a recruiter and project manager for COMP-Northwest. “But there are both physical and philosophical additions in the osteopathic medicine approach. It’s a more expansive and holistic way of looking at the patient.”
According to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest-growing fields of medicine in health care — more than 25% of all medical students are training to be osteopathic physicians, a 77% increase over the last decade.
“This exciting partnership with COMP-Northwest gives our graduates more options to pursue medicine,” said Beth Concepción, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The process of applying to medical school is a rigorous and, at times, stressful one. This gives interested students clarity, focus and direction.”
Requirements include a 3.5 GPA in science courses, a score of 505 or higher on the MCAT, two letters of recommendation, volunteer and health care experience, among others.
“We are thrilled with this partnership,” said Dr. Mandilin Hudson, site dean of COMP-Northwest and assistant professor of psychiatry. “As one of only two medical schools in the state of Oregon, COMP-Northwest is focused on increasing the number of physicians in our state, region and the country as a whole. We hope to be able to provide mentorship for Linfield students interested in careers as a physicians, no matter which route they take.”
She added that Linfield students may be pleasantly surprised by parallels between the institutions.
“We also see so many similarities between the Linfield and COMP-Northwest campuses in terms of being welcoming, community focused and academically rigorous,” she said. “We think that Linfield students will feel right at home if they choose COMP-Northwest for their medical degree.”
