Grove City College students interested in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry will be able to gain provisional early acceptance to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) as the schools today announced an expansion of their strategic partnership.

During a press conference at LECOM’s Erie campus, officials from both schools heralded the signing of formal Early Acceptance Program (EAP) agreements. The schools renewed their existing EAP agreement for LECOM’s College of Medicine and signed new agreements for LECOM’s School of Pharmacy and School of Dental Medicine.

Through the agreements, qualified students will be able to gain provisional early acceptance to LECOM as well as the opportunity, in some cases, to begin their studies at LECOM prior to completing their bachelor’s degrees. Another benefit of the provisional early acceptance is that qualified students will be spared the time and considerable expense of applying to numerous medical, pharmacy and dental schools.

Signing the agreements on behalf of LECOM were John Ferretti, D.O., President and CEO (second from right), and Silvia M. Ferretti, D.O., Provost, Senior Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs (far right). Representing Grove City College were Richard G. Jewell, J.D., President (second from left), and Robert J. Graham, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs (far left).

More than 60 Grove City College students have graduated from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and another 23 are currently enrolled at LECOM. In addition, three students at Grove City College – Derek Shirey, Cody Work, and Celeste Travis – are participating in the Early Acceptance Program for LECOM’s College of Medicine and will begin their studies at LECOM in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively.

“Grove City College has been a valued partner of LECOM,” Dr. John Ferretti said. “We look forward to welcoming more of their students as we continue to train the next generation of health care professionals.”

That sentiment was echoed by President Jewell. “We are pleased and excited to be adding two new components to our partnership with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine,” he said. “Now, students wishing to further their education in the Schools of Pharmacy and Dental Medicine will have a wonderful opportunity to begin their post-graduate studies early. We look forward to working with such an excellent partner.”

More about LECOM’s Early Acceptance Program agreements with Grove City College

• College of Medicine, “3+4” and “4+4” – Students will attend Grove City College for either three or four years, and then complete four years of study at LECOM to earn the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.
• School of Pharmacy, “3+3 (4)” and “4+3 (4)” – Students will attend Grove City College for either three or four years, and then complete three years at LECOM’s School of Pharmacy in Erie, or four years at its School of Pharmacy in Bradenton, Fla. LECOM’s Erie campus is one of the few nationally to offer an accelerated, three-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.The School of Pharmacy at the Bradenton campus offers a more traditional, four-year program.
• School of Dental Medicine, “4+4” – Students will attend Grove City College for four years and then complete four years at LECOM. The Early Acceptance Program for the DMD degree is only offered at LECOM’s campus in Bradenton, Fla.

More about the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is the nation’s largest medical school, with more than 2,200 students at campuses in Erie, Bradenton, Fla., and at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa. Total enrollment, including students in the School of Pharmacy, School of Dental Medicine and master’s degree offerings in biomedical sciences, medical education and health services administration, is nearly 3,600.All students are trained to offer ethical, empathetic and patient-centered care.

LECOM and Millcreek Community Hospital form the heart of the nation’s only osteopathic academic health center.

More about Grove City College

Since its founding in 1876, Grove City College has been committed to Christian principles and has achieved equality with the finest four-year colleges in its academic offerings. It provides liberal and professional education of the highest quality while still remaining within the reach of families of modest means, who desire a college that will strengthen their children’s spiritual and moral character. Grove City College seeks to foster in its students intellectual, moral, spiritual and social development consistent with a commitment to Christian truth, morals and freedom. The college has an enrollment of approximately 2,500 and offers a diverse curriculum that includes Pre-Dental, Pre-Health and Pre-Medical programs.