Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine: A Comprehensive Overview

Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DUQCOM) is one of the nation's newest medical schools, situated in the heart of Pittsburgh's medical hub. Founded on the legacy of serving others, DUQCOM aims to address healthcare disparities and produce physician leaders committed to the well-being of the whole person.

History and Mission

Duquesne University, established in 1878, has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and a commitment to social justice. Consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities, Duquesne emphasizes faculty-student collaboration and a horizon-expanding education. DUQCOM embodies these values by training physicians who will serve God, in the Spiritan tradition, by caring for all people in all communities, including underserved urban and rural communities of Western Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world, addressing healthcare disparities among these communities. The College will graduate physician leaders in all medical specialties with a focus on primary care. The vision of the Duquesne's College of Medicine is to create a culture of servant leaders who are dedicated to treating the whole person, mind, body and spirit.

Addressing the Physician Shortage

DUQCOM arrives at a critical time as the nation faces a shortage of available doctors, especially in urban and rural areas. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. will experience a shortage of more than 124,000 physicians, including 48,000 primary care doctors, by 2034. DUQCOM is stepping up to promote the holistic well-being of the most vulnerable among us.

Curriculum and Training

The curriculum at DUQCOM is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and clinically relevant medical education. For their first two years, students will study at the University’s medical school, which will feature state-of-the-art technology including the study of anatomy using cadaver-based dissection, radiology, ultrasound, and Hololens technology. Science instruction will be learned in a clinically relevant manner with a focus on various areas of patient care, including family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine and surgery, among others.

Clinical Rotations

The final two years of training will take place at the school’s partner hospitals. These healthcare partners will offer clinical placements for third-year and fourth-year medical students. DUQCOM has partnered with a wide array of healthcare providers, including:

Read also: Duquesne University Graduates

Allegheny Health Network
Butler Health System
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
Excela Health System
Heritage Valley
Indiana Regional Medical Center
Meadville Medical Center
Punxsutawney Area Hospital
Sharon Regional Medical Center
St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital (Mercy Health, a Mayo Clinic affiliate)
Trinity Health System
Weirton Medical Center
Eight regional federally qualified health centers

Innovative Technology and Simulation

DUQCOM is committed to providing students with access to the most advanced technology and simulation resources. The new building will incorporate the most advanced technologies, housed in a state-of-the-art simulation hospital setting. Animation graphics and virtual and augmented reality systems will allow for realism in immersion training that human subjects, cadavers or even the most sophisticated mannequins can't match. HoloLens technology, for example, has been shown to promote better learning outcomes; students learn more quickly and accurately, and retain information better than they do using cadavers. These resources will make Duquesne a national leader in the application of simulation technology in education for truly integrative health care.

The simulation hospital includes a large simulation hospital with a labor and delivery suite, operating room, intensive care unit, three-bay emergency department, and 3-D virtual ultrasound lab. An environment equipped with exam tables and technology to facilitate learning. Students will also use actors to learn and refine interpersonal, communication, and clinical skills.

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)

The curriculum also includes Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), an important component of the osteopathic program curriculum. Students will integrate osteopathic principles and techniques into everyday patient care.

Facilities and Location

Duquesne University constructed an 80,000 square-foot building on Forbes Avenue, providing a highly visible home for the Duquesne University Natsui College of Osteopathic Medicine. We have engaged a nationally-known architectural firm with vast experience in designing innovative and highly-functional academic medical facilities for renowned institutions across the country.

The new building incorporates areas for formal classroom learning, experiential and immersive learning (including advanced simulation technologies), student interaction and administration. An additional 20,000 square feet of existing space will be renovated to house a health sciences library and the University's new Center for Student Wellbeing.

Read also: Duquesne Campus Guide

Design and Sustainability

Set on a park-like location in downtown Pittsburgh, Duquesne University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (DUQCOM) is the first new college built on campus in more than 20 years. For a distinctive appearance blending advanced high-tech with approachable, high-touch, EFCO finished the aluminum framing, brake metal and swing entrance doors in a specialty bronze-gold color paint. Along with achieving DUQCOM’s aesthetic goals, EFCO 5600 Series thermal curtain wall and D500 Series entrance systems support the building’s energy efficiency, natural light and sustainable goals.

The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM), in association with WTW Architects (now AE Works), designed the college to meet LEED Silver criteria. Merging healing and learning.

For DUQCOM, Gurtner’s glazing team paired EFCO’s high-performance, thermal curtain wall with solar-control, low-emissivity insulated glass units. Along with meeting industry standards for air, water and structural integrity, the EFCO curtain wall’ s 2.25-by-6-inch extruded aluminum framing incorporates insulating thermal barriers. The highly engineered and precisely manufactured system assists the building by reducing energy and sound transmission, as well as improving condensation resistance. Supporting DUQCOM’s energy-efficient, code-compliant, sustainable facility design decision, EFCO offers a range of technical assistance and documentation.

The whole of DUQCOM is composed of 80,000 square feet of new construction and 20,000 square feet of existing, renovated space. Revitalizing previously constructed structures helped reduce the building’s total carbon footprint.

The facilities management staff highlights DUQCOM and the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse as “excellent examples of our visible work with design partners and contractors who share our commitment to sustainable best practices.”

Read also: Your Guide to Duquesne University

SLAM added that DUQCOM is “strategically positioned along Forbes Avenue alongside other educational institutions, Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh. The building acts as a bridge between campus and the city, contributing to the Forbes Avenue transformation initiative.

Philanthropic Support

Jim and Celeste Nasuti have made a transformational gift to Duquesne for its College of Osteopathic Medicine. A significant portion of the funding will be used for scholarships, so that students who want to attend this mission-focused medical school will have that opportunity. Their gift will support scholarships and faculty development, helping to ensure access to medical education for aspiring physicians committed to service. The Nasutis’ care for people aligns with our Spiritan commitment to developing authentic relationships.

The University has appointed W. Thomas McGough, Jr., recently retired executive vice president and chief legal officer of UPMC, as a Distinguished Faculty Fellow in Law and Medicine.

Admission

The medical school attracted a large and competitive national pool of several thousand applicants. All are encouraged to apply.

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