Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine: Programs and Opportunities

Rocky Vista University (RVU) is a private, for-profit medical school committed to training osteopathic physicians equipped to meet the diverse needs of their patients. With campuses in Englewood, Colorado, Ivins, Utah, and Billings, Montana, RVU offers a range of programs designed to provide comprehensive medical education. The university's motto is "Achieving New Heights in Medical Education."

History and Overview

Founded in 2006 by Yife Tien, Rocky Vista University opened its doors as the first modern for-profit medical school in the United States. The inaugural class was admitted in 2008, and the first class graduated on May 19, 2012. In 2017, a second campus was established in Ivins, Utah, welcoming its first class of osteopathic medical students in the fall of the same year. In 2019, the ownership of Rocky Vista University was transferred to Medforth Global Healthcare Education, the owner-operator of St. George’s University (SGU).

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Program

RVU offers a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree at its Colorado, Utah, and Montana campuses. The curriculum is structured to provide a strong foundation in both basic sciences and clinical practice.

Curriculum Structure

Years 1 and 2: These years primarily focus on classroom-based learning, covering the essential health sciences. The design of the curriculum is based on a proven systems-based integrated academic model. It emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, guiding students to develop a holistic, and more importantly, an osteopathic approach to medicine. In utilizing a systems approach to medical education, basic biomedical science disciplines are integrated with clinical sciences in a fashion that reflects clinical relevancy, rather than broken down into individual segregated disciplines. The overall curriculum is scheduled in blocks with intervening periods of integrations, reflection, wellness, and time for scholarly activity and electives. Weekly schedules follow a format of faculty guided Student Directed Learning during most afternoons and group Active Learning Sessions most mornings. Assessments are formative and summative with an emphasis on learning of material and competency of skill. MCOM continually correlates basic scientific information and methodology with fundamental clinical application. Students are exposed to clinical settings and simulation beginning in their first semester and continuing throughout the first two years of coursework, giving them the opportunity to prepare for the “real world” of medicine. By adding early clinical skills, simulation, and active learning in a team or small group setting early in the curriculum will strengthen the students’ abilities to think critically, solve clinical problems, and develop the skills they will require to continue to learn throughout their careers. Professionalism and ethics are key components for a physician and are emphasized throughout the entire curricular experience at MCOM.
Years 3 and 4: These years consist of clinical clerkships (rotations) in various major medical specialties, providing students with hands-on experience in real-world clinical settings. Third and fourth-year students are placed at one of our regional training sites throughout the state and region to ensure continuity and coordination of clinical education within RVU’s vast and growing clinical training network.

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Emphasis on Osteopathic Principles

RVUCOM's goal is that all students will practice the traditions of osteopathic principles, philosophy and heritage and will become well-rounded physicians equipped to meet the needs of patients today and into the future. The university emphasizes the training of students who are committed to entering community-based and primary care disciplines to meet the needs of those who are underserved or disadvantaged in Colorado, Utah, and the Mountain West Region. RVU is committed to producing graduates who not only are knowledgeable and skilled, but who also are ethical, compassionate, holistic, and patient-centered.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program

The Colorado campus offers a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program. The MPAS curriculum is adapted from a competency-based model.

Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) Program

RVU provides a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program at the Colorado and Utah campuses. The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program at Rocky Vista University (RVU) is a Direct Pathway to RVU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Colorado or Utah. The MSBS program is a 9-month (31 semester hours) degree program with core curriculum in Biomedical Sciences designed to prepare students to enter professional education.

Special Programs and Educational Tracks

RVU offers a variety of tracks and special programs designed to help students tailor their medical education to specific interests and career goals. These programs run alongside the core curriculum, providing specialized training, mentorship, and hands-on experiences in key areas of medicine.

Military Medicine Program

RVU's Military Medicine Program is designed specifically for students pursuing careers as physicians in the United States Army, Navy, or Air Force. The majority of students in this Program have earned a Health Professions Scholarship Program(HPSP) through their respective military branch and, as such, have acquired a military service obligation of two to four years. Participants in this program engage in field training exercises, leadership development, and military-specific medical education, ensuring they are well-equipped to serve in diverse operational environments. The program also fosters a strong community among HPSP recipients and military-bound students, supporting their transition into military service while balancing the demands of medical school.

Facilities and Resources

Rocky Vista University offers comprehensive facilities tailored to medical education across its campuses in Colorado and Utah. Both RVU campuses contain:

Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery (SIMS): A high-tech training facility designed to mimic real-world clinical environments, featuring life-sized, computer-controlled manikins that breathe, have heartbeats, bleed, and even respond to treatments. The SiMS Center employs a range of simulation tools including immersion room technology that can project virtually any visual scenario into the learning space using a 270O high-definition projector with image or videos captured from a 360-degree camera.
Emergency Room (ER) & Trauma Simulation: A fully equipped ER setting where students practice handling emergency situations, such as heart attacks, strokes, or trauma cases, including defibrillators, IV setups, ventilators, and emergency medications.
Two large lecture halls, and countless small group study rooms line the halls of our buildings.
Osteopathic clinical skills labs: Equipped with specialized treatment tables, medical models, and instructional technology to guide students through osteopathic diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
Full dissection labs: Students perform full-body dissections to understand human anatomy in detail.
Standardized patient rooms: Utilized for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), which test students’ ability to take histories, conduct physical exams, and communicate with patients. Helps develop essential clinical and communication skills before students transition to real patient care.
Clinical Rotation Facilities: RVU provides a comprehensive clinical education through a variety of rotations designed to equip students with hands-on experience across multiple medical specialties.
Numerous apartment complexes are available in close proximity of the Colorado campus.

Student Support and Activities

RVU offers a wide range of student activities and support services to enhance and assist our students through their medical school experience. To support student success, RVU offers academic advising, tutoring, career counseling, and mental health services. The university also provides residency preparation resources and ensures accessibility through disability accommodations.

Students can become involved in numerous clubs and organizations, including specialty-focused groups, as well as interest-based clubs. Students can get involved in numerous clubs and organizations, including specialty-focused groups like the American College of Osteopathic Pediatrics (ACOP) and PsychSIGN (Psychiatry Student Interest Group Network). The Student Government Association (SGA) provides leadership opportunities, and the Peer Mentor Program helps new students transition smoothly into medical school life. Additionally, students can participate in service-learning opportunities and community outreach programs to gain hands-on experience while giving back.

Rocky Vista Health Center (RVHC)

RVU owns and operates the health clinic, Rocky Vista Health Center (RVHC), located on the Parker, Colorado campus. The clinic is a primary care medical facility which provides continued health care and health maintenance for its patients. In addition to primary care, the clinic provides services in internal medicine, sports medicine, and osteopathic manipulation. The clinic employs board certified M.D. and D.O. Advanced medical students of the college are periodically selected to work in the health clinic as Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Fellows. Under the supervision of board-certified physicians, these students provide osteopathic manipulation to patients at discounted rates.

Admissions

RVUCOM operates on a rolling admissions basis. Rocky Vista University seeks applicants who are not only academically prepared but also demonstrate a strong commitment to osteopathic principles, service, leadership, and professionalism. Competitive candidates should have a solid foundation in the sciences, strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of patient-centered, holistic care. RVU values individuals with diverse life experiences, a passion for community service, and a dedication to improving healthcare access, especially in underserved areas.

Read also: Financial Aid at Rocky Mountain

Application Process

Applicants will receive a supplemental application upon verification that their AACOMAS application has been received and meets the minimum requirements. After the supplemental application has been completed, our team will review their application in full and consider them for an interview.

Verified AACOMAS applications will be screened for our minimum requirements.

Interview Process

Interviews will be conducted virtually in an online format. Each candidate will interview with one-to-two individuals selected by the RVUCOM Office of Admissions. Interviewers will only have access to personal statements, work and volunteer experience, honors and awards, RVUCOM supplemental questions, and letters of recommendation. Interviewers will not have access to a candidate’s academic information or MCAT scores.

Interview questions may be based only on information from the supplemental application and non-academic information from the primary AACOMAS application.

Matriculation

Osteopathic Medical College (COM) applicants may be asked to submit necessary matriculation documents, including a deposit, according to the following AACOMAS traffic guideline schedule:

Those accepted prior to November 15 to have until December 14.
Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 to have 30 days
Those accepted between January 15 and April 30 to have 14 days.

Admission Requirements

Physician letter required?
Virtual Shadowing Options?
Accepts online coursework to fulfill prerequisite requirements?
Accepts prerequisite coursework pass/fail grades?
Will your institution waive MCAT exam requirements?
Accepts online lab coursework?
International Students Accepted? RVUCOM considers international applicants.

As MCOM reviews candidates on a rolling-process, it is in the candidate’s best interest to submit their AACOMAS application as early in the cycle as possible.

Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVU-MCOM)

Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVU-MCOM) is an independently operated branch campus of the established Rocky Vista University College. The 138,000 square foot RVU-MCOM campus facility is located on 12.8 acres overlooking the Beartooth Mountains in Billings, MT. Key features include modern architecture capitalizing on natural light, innovative technology throughout, a 23,000 square feet Simulation in Medicine & Surgery (SiMS) Center, group-based active learning spaces, an expansive anatomy lab for both cadavers and virtual reality, and a dedicated Osteopathic Clinical Skills lab. The thoughtfully planned health education building provides a learning environment that incorporates student wellness, resilience, and professionalism into the programming. Emphasis on physical and mental wellbeing flows throughout the campus and includes a yoga studio and full fitness center. RVU Montana offers a wide range of student activities and support services to enhance the medical school experience.

MCOM Accreditation

MCOM has received programmatic accreditation by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

MCOM Curricular Offerings

The design of the curriculum is based on a proven systems-based integrated academic model. It emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, guiding students to develop a holistic, and more importantly, an osteopathic approach to medicine. In utilizing a systems approach to medical education, basic biomedical science disciplines are integrated with clinical sciences in a fashion that reflects clinical relevancy, rather than broken down into individual segregated disciplines.

The overall curriculum is scheduled in blocks with intervening periods of integrations, reflection, wellness, and time for scholarly activity and electives. Weekly schedules follow a format of faculty guided Student Directed Learning during most afternoons and group Active Learning Sessions most mornings. Assessments are formative and summative with an emphasis on learning of material and competency of skill. MCOM continually correlates basic scientific information and methodology with fundamental clinical application.

Students are exposed to clinical settings and simulation beginning in their first semester and continuing throughout the first two years of coursework, giving them the opportunity to prepare for the “real world” of medicine. We believe that by adding early clinical skills, simulation, and active learning in a team or small group setting early in the curriculum will strengthen the students’ abilities to think critically, solve clinical problems, and develop the skills they will require to continue to learn throughout their careers. Professionalism and ethics are key components for a physician and are emphasized throughout the entire curricular experience at MCOM.

Third and fourth-year students are placed at one of our regional training sites throughout the state and region to ensure continuity and coordination of clinical education within RVU’s vast and growing clinical training network.

MCOM Special Programs

interested students. Dean’s Letter and their transcript. (GRWUT) MedicineMilitary Medicine, and Research Education Academic Leadership (REAL) Medicine.

MCOM Admissions

RVU-MCOM operates on a rolling admissions basis. To receive a supplemental application, RVU-MCOM must receive the applicants verified AACOMAS application and meet minimum requirements. The admissions team will then send over the supplemental application. Upon receiving an applicants completed supplemental application, their application will be reviewed in full and an interview decision will be made.

Physician letter required?
Virtual Shadowing Options?
Accepts online coursework to fulfill prerequisite requirements?
Accepts prerequisite coursework pass/fail grades?
Will your institution waive MCAT exam requirements?
Accepts online lab coursework?

As MCOM reviews candidates on a rolling-process, it is in the candidate’s best interest to submit their AACOMAS application as early in the cycle as possible. Rocky Vista University seeks applicants who are not only academically prepared but also demonstrate a strong commitment to osteopathic principles, service, leadership, and professionalism. Competitive candidates should have a solid foundation in the sciences, strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of patient-centered, holistic care. RVU values individuals with diverse life experiences, a passion for community service, and a dedication to improving healthcare access, especially in underserved areas.

International Students Accepted?

Interviews will be conducted virtually in an online format. Each candidate will interview with one-to-two individuals selected by the MCOM Office of Admissions. Interviewers will only have access to personal statements, work and volunteer experience, honors and awards, MCOM supplemental questions, and letters of recommendation. Interviewers will not have access to a candidate’s academic information or MCAT scores.