West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine partners with WVU Tech on med school pathway

                     

This month, West Virginia University Institute of Technology and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine kicked off what both institutions hope to be a long and fruitful partnership designed to prepare Tech students for medical school.

The two schools signed an official memorandum of understanding stating that they would work together to provide opportunities for WVU Tech students to develop the skills and credentials necessary for admission to and success at WVSOM.

The partnership is part of WVSOM’s Pre-Osteopathic Medicine Program. For WVU Tech students in the biology, chemistry and chemical engineering fields, it provides an opportunity to establish a well-defined pathway into medicine. Those students who maintain exceptional grades can begin working with the program as soon as the sophomore year of their undergraduate education.

"We are noted for our student success in chemistry and biology,” said WVU Tech Campus Provost, Dr. Nigel Clark. “This agreement for early acceptance into the osteopathic school will encourage our high-performing students to plan their professional studies well in advance, providing a great start to a successful career path in medicine.”

Students in the program are assigned a WVSOM faculty mentor. Eligible students may also receive an expedited application review and early admission interview. If those students maintain a 3.4 GPA or higher, they may be admitted to the program at WVSOM before they complete their undergraduate degree at WVU Tech.

Michael D. Adelman, D.O., president of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, called the partnership a “win-win” educational situation.

“We are very pleased to have WVU Tech as one of our partners for WVSOM’s pre-osteopathic program. It allows for early identification of the best and brightest students who have an interest in osteopathic medicine, and lets us provide guidance and mentorship to prepare them for the rigors of medical school,” he said.