Elmira College (EC) and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) – Elmira partnered to launch a unique, dual admission accelerated six-year Bachelor of Science (BS) to Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program.
By leveraging the close proximity and collaboration between EC and LECOM, this accelerated six-year program will reduce the time students spend in college, saving them money and allowing them to start their careers more quickly. Most BS to DO programs across the country are completed in seven or eight years and are fully integrated from day one, meaning the students do not receive a bachelor’s degree. Students entering this program will receive a BS in Biology from Elmira College, offering them greater flexibility. Also, students entering this program will not need to take the MCAT or complete additional graduate school applications, removing the application stress and allowing them to focus on their academic success.
“This exciting and unique program is another chance for us to build on our strategy to pair a liberal arts education with career-focused programs,” said Dr. Charles Lindsay, Elmira College President. “Thanks to the relationship between EC and LECOM that began in 2019, we have found ways to create hands-on learning experiences that add value for the students at both institutions.”
Throughout the program, students will be guided through the courses needed to succeed in their graduate degree. Their first two years will be at EC, living on the beautiful and historic campus while completing general education requirements and working toward a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In their third year, the students will be dual enrolled at EC and LECOM. Students may live on the EC campus in their third year while completing their BS from EC and taking graduate courses at LECOM. Their final three years will be dedicated to earning their DO at LECOM. Unlike other accelerated programs, students in the EC-LECOM BS to DO program will meet all curriculum standards for both colleges.
DOs have the same credentials as medical doctors (MD) and can prescribe medications and perform surgeries. Nearly 70% of LECOM graduates go into primary care, which reflects the more preventative and holistic approach DOs take toward health care. This approach includes the Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment, a touch-based method for diagnosis and treatment that manipulates a patient’s joints, soft tissue, and muscles. While most chose to enter primary care, DOs can specialize as well.
“We are facing a critical shortage of physicians in the United States and especially here in Upstate New York,” said Dr. Richard R. Terry, LECOM – Elmira Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. “This innovative program with Elmira College will impactfully expedite the production pipeline for future physicians and will go a long way to alleviating the disparity and limited access to health care in this region.”
For more information, visit the BS to DO program page on the Elmira College website.
About Elmira College
Founded in 1855, Elmira College is a private, residential, liberal arts college offering 25-plus majors, an honors program, 17 academic societies, and 16 Division III varsity teams. Located in the Southern Finger Lakes Region of New York, Elmira’s undergraduate and graduate student population hails from more than 20 states and nine countries. Elmira is a Phi Beta Kappa College and has been ranked a top college, nationally, for student internships. The College is also home to the Center for Mark Twain Studies, one of four historically significant Twain heritage sites in the U.S., which attracts Twain scholars and educators from around the world for research on the famous literary icon. Proud of its history and tradition, the College is committed to the ideals of community service, and intellectual and individual growth.
About LECOM
In 2023, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) celebrates its 30th anniversary. Founded in 1992, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has grown to become the largest medical school in the country. Enrollment in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Dental Medicine, School of Podiatric Medicine, School of Health Services Administration and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences has surpassed 4,400 students at campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pa., Bradenton, Fla., and Elmira, N.Y. LECOM consistently graduates more primary care physicians than any other U.S. medical college while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions of any private medical school in the country. The college is the core of the nation’s only osteopathic academic health centers, LECOM Health, a highly innovative, multifaceted health care and education system. Today over 16,000 LECOM alumni are providing health care to patients across the U.S.