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National and Local Osteopathic Medicine College Enrollment Climbs
October 18, 2012 - Total enrollment at the nation’s osteopathic medical colleges now tops 21,600, a 4.5 percent increase over last year’s total enrollment. Today, 20 percent of all U.S. medical students are attending osteopathic medical schools, a percentage that will continue to increase as new campuses are developed or complete all four years of enrollment, and as established and existing colleges complete previously approved increases in their class sizes. Three new colleges of osteopathic medicine will open their doors in 2013, and several others are in the planning stages. This fall, 5,804 new students enrolled at one of the nation’s 26 colleges of osteopathic medicine, a 2.9 percent increase over last year’s incoming class.
- In spring 2012, 4,722 students graduated from osteopathic medical schools, 13.5 percent more than the previous year’s 4,159 graduating osteopathic medical students, and 54 percent more than the number of new osteopathic physicians who graduated a decade ago.
- Currently 1 of 5 students attending medical school is attending a college of osteopathic medicine and soon that number may approach 1 in 4.
- Enrollment is expected to continue rising in the coming years, with three colleges of osteopathic medicine opening their doors in fall 2013 and the new branch campus of VCOM in Spartanburg, South Carolina: VCOM-Carolinas Campus in its second year.
- VCOM’s reached an enrollment of over 1,000 medical students this fall according to William King, Chair of the two VCOM Admissions Committees, and “our quality of new students continues to rise along with our students’ deep passion to serve this who need healthcare the most.”
- Halfway through the application cycle for entry in fall 2013, osteopathic medical school applications are on track to hit record numbers for the tenth consecutive year. VCOM’s Applications are up about 12% this year, having reached 4,400 last year for its 350 slots.
Growth in the number of osteopathic medical school graduates will help mitigate looming physician shortages, especially in the critical primary care area. A variety of reports predict primary care physician deficits that will range from 20,000 to 46,000 by 2020-2025, and all physician shortages of 120,000 to 160,000. With large numbers of new osteopathic physicians continuing to pursue primary care careers, AACOM is hopeful that the osteopathic medical profession can help the nation avert a primary care crisis.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) prepares globally minded, community-focused physicians for the rural and medically underserved areas of Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the Appalachian Region, and improves human health especially of those most in need. The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine promotes excellence in osteopathic medical education, in research and in service, and fosters innovation and quality among osteopathic medical colleges to improve the health of the American public.
VCOM – Virginia Campus • VCOM – Carolinas Campus