Idaho’s first medical school has become a reality. The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, or ICOM, hosted a Wednesday ribbon-cutting ceremony for its three-story building next to the Idaho State University campus in Meridian.
The first class of 162 students – including 41 from Idaho – started instruction August 20th.
In 2016, ISU leased the land to ICOM on which the medical school was built and agreed to allow the school to use ISU laboratory space. Although the two schools have a partnership between them, ICOM has its own governing board and operates independently of the university.
Students will earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, or D.O., as opposed to a Doctor of Medicine degree, or M.D. Both groups are licensed physicians with similar schooling, training and practices, but their philosophies vary, as osteopathic medicine emphasizes holistic care and preventative treatment.
The Burrell Group, a New Mexico investment group, is the main funder of ICOM, which is a private, for-profit college. The same group also started the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University, and CEO Dan Burrell said he saw a similar need for physicians in the Mountain West that existed in New Mexico.
Idaho currently partners with medical schools in neighboring states to offer spots for Gem State students.
When announcing ICOM in February 2016, Governor Butch Otter said Idaho needs to do more to address its “critical doctor shortage. Idaho ranks 49th for the number of physicians and 50th for primary care physicians per capita in the nation. (Idaho State Journal)
