Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine: A Comprehensive Overview
The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) at Ohio University stands as the largest medical school in Ohio and the sole osteopathic medical school in the state. Established in 1975, the college's mission centers on emphasizing primary care and training physicians to serve Ohio, particularly in underserved Appalachian and urban areas.
History and Development
The idea of establishing a medical school at Ohio University dates back to 1823. However, it wasn't until 1975 that the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine was officially established. The first class comprised of 21 graduates. Over the years, the college has grown in prominence, marked by significant milestones:
- 1989: John Kopchick, Ph.D., discovered a compound that would become Pegvisomant (Somavert), a growth hormone receptor antagonist used to treat acromegaly.
- 2011: The college received a transformative $105 million gift from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations. This was the largest private gift ever given to Ohio University.
- Post-2011: The college expanded its reach by establishing two new extension campuses in partnership with OhioHealth in Dublin, Ohio, and with Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
- 2012: The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) approved the college to begin recruiting students for its Central Ohio Extension Campus in Dublin, Ohio.
- 2021: Heritage Hall was constructed along Union Street (near West Green), opening in 2021. This new area of campus will be referred to as Union Green.
- 2023: The university announced a $70 million funding commitment from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation to construct a large adjacent hall which will be used for practice.
Campus Locations and Facilities
The Heritage College operates across multiple locations:
- Athens: The main medical campus is located on Union Street Green inside the main Ohio University campus in Athens, Ohio. The Heritage medical campus is located near O'Bleness Hospital in Athens which is operated by OhioHealth.
- Dublin: An extension campus operates in partnership with OhioHealth.
- Cleveland: Another extension campus is run in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic.
Academic Programs and Curriculum
Heritage offers a single program conferring the degree Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), and several combined degree programs.
The college emphasizes active, authentic learning in which students apply concepts learned through self-directed study and laboratory-based experiences designed to complement and reinforce clinical patient presentations. Clinical experiences, patient case studies and an emphasis on health systems sciences and interprofessional experiences are highlighted and closely align with the single-accreditation system for graduate medical education.
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Students are enrolled in the Pathways to Health and Wellness Curriculum, a four-year osteopathic curriculum that fosters horizontal and vertical integration of foundational content; opportunities for elective and/or selective pathways at all campuses; longitudinal themes throughout the curricular design; formative assessments that drive learning; interprofessional approaches to curriculum delivery; and protected time for student and faculty development, wellness and creativity.
During the first and second years, medical students can choose between two curricular tracks:
- Clinical Presentation Continuum (CPC): A more traditional curriculum organized around symptoms, featuring lectures, problem sets, and panel discussions.
- Patient-Centered Continuum (PCC): A curriculum that emphasizes patient-centered care.
Education in years 1 and 2 typically occurs at one of our three academic campuses. In years 3 and 4, students relocate to our clinical campus sites.
Admissions
Admissions to the Heritage College are considered competitive and holistic. As a state-funded medical school, HCOM gives strong preference for applicants who are in-state residents.
For the entering class of 2022, the average science GPA was 3.62; non-science, 3.77; and overall, 3.68. The average MCAT score was 504.50, with a range of 490 to 520. For the entering class of 2027, the average undergraduate overall GPA was 3.66. The average MCAT score was 503.44.
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Programs and Opportunities
The Heritage College provides various programs and opportunities for its students:
- Post-Baccalaureate Program: A one-year program for students who need to strengthen their science background before applying to medical school. Students who complete the program with a 3.2 GPA are guaranteed admission. Admission consideration begins with applying to Heritage College, completing the interview process, and receiving a waitlist decision from the Student Selection Advisory Committee. To be considered for the program, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or hold permanent resident status, have obtained a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and have taken the MCAT within three years of matriculation to Heritage College with a score of 490 or better.
- Prematriculation Program: A four-week accelerated introduction to medical school for Post Baccalaureate participants and other mission-aligned entering medical students. Students who have completed our Post Baccalaureate program are required to participate in PreMatriculation. Other entering students may be invited to participate based on their academic needs or alignment with our college mission. The program enrolls a cohort of 24 students. College faculty and medical students teach courses in medical morphology, histology, immunology and biochemistry. The program is designed to promote academic, career and personal success by helping to reinforce strategies that promote life-long learning. experiencing health care disparities or medical provider shortages. to give participants a realistic introduction to the first-year curriculum at Heritage College and to foster academic, career and personal success.
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF): This program allows students to work in a research laboratory under faculty mentorship. The program aims to expose you to the challenges, excitement, and satisfaction of biomedical and basic science research.
- COMCorps: An AmeriCorp Program where members serve a 10.5 or 11.5-month term packed with 1,700 hours of life-changing experience serving others.
- PreDOC: A nationwide student organization educating premed students about osteopathic medicine and the Heritage College. The goal of PreDOC is to create a close-knit community of premed students who are informed, inspired, and excited about practicing osteopathic medicine.
Commitment to Primary Care and Underserved Communities
The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is deeply committed to training physicians who will serve in primary care roles and address the healthcare needs of underserved communities, particularly in the Appalachian and urban areas of Ohio. This commitment is reflected in its curriculum, programs, and outreach efforts.
Financials
The college has an endowment of $18.0 million and a budget of $105 million.
Notable People
The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has produced numerous accomplished graduates, including:
- Kenneth H. Johnson, D.O.
- John "Jack" Adolph Brose, D.O.
- Daniel Jon Marazon, D.O.
- Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O.
- Frank Wayne Myers, D.O.
- Gerald Alden Faverman, Ph.D.
- Robert Biscup, D.O.
- Terry Johnson (Ohio politician), D.O.
- Thomas Hutson, D.O.
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