INDIANA, PA – As part of a reception welcoming Indiana University of Pennsylvania proposed college of osteopathic medicine founding Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Dr. Ryan Smith and founding Associate Dean of Preclinical Affairs Dr. Luke Mortensen, Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41) and Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-62) announced $2 million from the 2024-2025 state budget has been set aside for IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
The allocation, following up on $2 million from the 2023-2024 budget for the project, is an investment in what would be the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in Pennsylvania.
“The need for skilled health care is significant and becoming more dire every day, and that need is magnified in our rural communities,” Sen. Pittman said. “The fastest growing age demographic in Pennsylvania are those individuals 85 years and older, and one in five Pennsylvanians are senior citizens. As stated before, I commend the leadership at IUP for their efforts to develop this college of osteopathic medicine and recognize the positive impacts it will have not just across the 41st Senatorial District, but throughout the commonwealth.”
With IUP’s clinical training affiliation agreement signed with Punxsutawney Area Hospital and Indiana Regional Medical Center, the proposed college of osteopathic medicine is aligning with local health care facilities that will serve as opportunities for real world learning and potential future workplaces for college of osteopathic medicine graduates.
“The proposed college of osteopathic medicine at IUP, and the partnership with Indiana Regional Medical Center, will bring more students to the area helping to grow the local economy and increasing the capability and quality of healthcare available to the Indiana community, and other rural communities across the commonwealth,” Rep. Struzzi said. “This $2 million investment by the state will help get the program started and marks an investment in our community and our students. I look forward to seeing the development of IUP’s students and the partnership with IRMC.”
“This project is an extraordinary step for IUP’s commitment to address Pennsylvania’s rural health care crisis,” IUP President Dr. Michael Driscoll said. “The people of the communities that surround us need – and deserve — our help.
“We are very fortunate to be joined by committed legislators and a community that is fully behind the project,” President Driscoll said. “We are grateful to Senator Pittman and Representative Struzzi for their sincere and deep care and concern about the health and wellness of the region, and who are working tirelessly to help us to advance our proposed college of osteopathic medicine. We continue to appreciate their ongoing support and confidence in us and in this project.
“While we know we have a great deal of hard work ahead of us, with our legislators and our community behind us and the talented team of experts who are fully committed to this mission, I am certain that we will turn our vision into a thriving center for medical education. We’re not just looking to add another program to our university; we are laying the foundation for something transformational,” President Driscoll said.
“We have an incredible opportunity to change the landscape of healthcare access and delivery throughout rural Pennsylvania and graduate a cadre of future physicians who become compassionate, inspired leaders—not just for health care systems—but for residents of rural communities across the state,” Dr. Miko Rose, founding dean of IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine, said.
“I join President Driscoll in thanking Senator Pittman and Representative Struzzi for their unwavering support of this project and their recognition of its importance for the citizens they serve so well,” she said.
There are only three colleges of osteopathic medicine in Pennsylvania, all at private universities; IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine would be the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university.
National studies show that graduates from programs of osteopathic medicine are more likely to pursue primary care in rural and underserved areas—57 percent of all doctors of osteopathic medicine practice as general practitioners, and more than 20 percent of DO graduates practice in rural areas. Demand is high for osteopathic medicine training: in 2021, 22,708 applicants competed for 8,280 seats at schools of osteopathic medicine.
Dr. Rose was hired as the founding dean of the proposed college of osteopathic medicine in November 2023; the hiring of a founding dean is one of the first steps to establishing the college.
In July and August, respectively, Dr. Smith and Dr. Mortensen joined the team.
IUP signed its first clinical training affiliation agreement with Punxsutawney Area Hospital in June and its second clinical training agreement with Indiana Regional Medical Center in September.
Media Contacts:
Kate Eckhart Flessner (Sen. Pittman)
Matthew Davis (Rep. Struzzi)