News
May 9, 2018UAlbany and Touro College of Medicine Collaborate to Develop the Next Generation of Physicians
New Partnership Will Pave the Way for Select UAlbany Students to Earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree
The University at Albany and Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Middletown (TouroCOM-Middletown) are launching a program that will provide select UAlbany students with the opportunity to be assured admission to the medical school two years earlier than the standard application year.
Osteopathic medicine is a distinct form of medicine that emphasizes illness prevention and a “whole-person” approach to treatment and care. According to the American Osteopathic Association, DOs receive particular training in the musculoskeletal system in addition to learning the “latest advances in medical technology, offering patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.” Osteopathic physicians can choose any specialty, prescribe drugs, perform surgeries, and practice medicine anywhere in the United States.
Under the agreement, highly competitive pre-medical students who come to UAlbany as freshmen can apply to TouroCOM-Middletown in the fall of their sophomore year and will be notified of acceptance by May of the same academic year. Accepted students will be given the opportunity to make a reciprocal, binding commitment and in return, TouroCOM-Middletown will reserve a place for the student in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) class scheduled to matriculate two years from the date of their acceptance into the program.
“One of the many reasons we are thrilled to partner with TouroCOM-Middletown is that Osteopathic Medicine is known to be incredibly effective at graduating students who pursue careers in primary and preventative care,” said Laura Schweitzer, Vice President for Health Sciences at UAlbany. “There is a tremendous shortage of these types of community-oriented doctors in New York State, and as such we look forward to a partnership that will not only serve a critical need in NYS, but will also provide yet another option to our talented pre-medical students.”
“Agreements such as this demonstrate TouroCOM’s commitment to training physicians who will live and practice in the Middletown and Hudson Valley area,” said Kenneth J. Steier, D.O., Executive Dean of TouroCOM NY. “These areas have a significant need for physicians, especially in primary care.”
The program, which is site-specific and applies only to the Middletown campus of Touro, does not enable students to begin medical school early but rather allows them to be guaranteed placement two years earlier than is the standard practice.
In addition to maintaining a high level of academic achievement, the students who gain acceptance and commit to attending TouroCOM-Middletown will be required to meet regularly with their UAlbany advisor and representatives from TouroCOM-Middletown. In addition, the student must obtain one hundred hours of paid or volunteer exposure to the healthcare field and complete all medical school requirements, including the MCAT examination.
UAlbany’s affiliation with TouroCOM-Middletown joins the list of other early assurance programs offered to students.
For more information about the TouroCOM-Middletown program including eligibility requirements, click here.
