Seton Hill University (SHU) and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), a private, graduate school of medicine and pharmacy, based in Erie, released their plans to open an additional location of LECOM at SHU during a press conference on June 17 held at SHU.
According to Michele Ridge, chair of the Board of Trustees at SHU, this partnership should “expand medical education in southwestern Pennsylvania” and “increase the percentage of medical school graduates who stay in the area” to serve their community.
LECOM is the nation’s largest medical school and this additional location will increase their class size.
By Kayla Sawyer,
News Editor
Seton Hill University (SHU) and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), a private, graduate school of medicine and pharmacy, based in Erie, released their plans to open an additional location of LECOM at SHU during a press conference on June 17 held at SHU.
According to Michele Ridge, chair of the Board of Trustees at SHU, this partnership should “expand medical education in southwestern Pennsylvania” and “increase the percentage of medical school graduates who stay in the area” to serve their community.
LECOM is the nation’s largest medical school and this additional location will increase their class size.
They will also hire 13 full-time faculty members with doctoral degrees in medicine or basic science, D.O., M.D. or Ph.D., as well as four part-time instructors.
LECOM will invest more than $4 million to equip the Reeves Memorial Library building to access electronic data bases in Erie and renovate Lynch Hall to hold offices for faculty and meeting rooms.
“No new facilities will be built to accommodate LECOM at SHU at this time either on campus or in downtown Greensburg,” said Molly Robb Shimko, associate vice president for institutional advancement.
“I don’t have any opinion on it unless it takes up a lot of room…because we have our own students that can’t get rooms,” said Ryan Gephart, a senior.
The partnership with LECOM will create a degree program, and SHU undergraduates who qualify will be able to complete the Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees within seven years.
SHU students cannot schedule LECOM classes but undergraduate applicants to SHU may apply to the affiliate program. After their acceptance to SHU, they will be interviewed by LECOM. Students can be guaranteed a placement in the medical school following a joint decision made by both universities.
After completing the four-year baccalaureate program at SHU, students who meet the program’s requirements can earn the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree by utilizing the four-year medical education program at LECOM at SHU.
Another option is for a student to transfer into the LECOM at SHU program after their junior year. After the first year of medical school is complete, SHU will accept that year as transfer credits and award an undergraduate degree.
Undergraduate degrees from SHU for medical school students can be in either biochemistry or biology. LECOM at SHU will accept 104 students per year and will enroll in the Problem-Based Learning study method beginning in August 2009. Of the 104 seats available, up to 25 percent are accessible to SHU students.
“I think it’s fascinating. It has been interesting to watch SHU evolve,” said Daryle Gracey, a senior. “Although, it would be a little strange having two colleges on the same campus.”