Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is a private graduate school of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy with a main campus in Erie, Pennsylvania, and branch campuses located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Bradenton, Florida. Founded in 1992, LECOM confers degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, as well as master's degrees in Health Services Administration, Biomedical Sciences, and Medical Education. LECOM operates one of the few accelerated three-year pharmacy programs in the country, and is one of 2 pharmacy schools in the country with a distance education program.
With over 2,200 enrolled medical students, the College of Osteopathic Medicine at LECOM is the largest in the United States.
LECOM is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
History
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine was founded in 1992. The first courses began in 1993, and the inaugural class of students graduated in 1997. In 2002, the school of pharmacy opened.In 2004, LECOM opened a branch campus in Bradenton, Florida, and in 2009 opened a new satellite campus in Greensburg, Pennsylvania at the site of Seton Hill University. In 2007, Lake Erie COM was the first US medical school to re-introduce a three-year medical school program, after the other 3 year programs in nation had closed. In 2012, the Bradenton campus opened a new dental school. In 2020, LECOM plans to open a new medical school campus in Elmira, New York.
The medical school at LECOM is the largest in the United States.
The college's total enrollment now exceeds 4100 students and has more than 11,000 alumni. LECOM is a member of the LECOM Health system, an academic health center with two hospitals, physician practices, two skilled nursing centers and three independent living centers for older adults.
Academics
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
The medical school offers three primary learning pathways: a traditional lecture discussion Program, a problem-based learning program, and a directed study program, as well as two, three-year programs, all leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The Erie campus offers all three primary pathways, while the Bradenton and Greensburg campuses offer curriculum based solely on problem-based learning.The Problem-Based Learning Pathway emphasizes student-centered self-directed learning through small group interaction, with limited faculty involvement. The PBL pathway is the sole pathway offered at the Bradenton and Greensburg campuses. The Lecture Discussion Pathway is a traditional curriculum where subjects are taught in a lecture format. Basic science courses include gross anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology and physiology. Clinical sciences are taught in a systems-based format. The Directed Study Pathway is a unique program, which begins with significant daily classroom time in the first semester, which then transitions into specific "directed study" modules for the duration of the first two years of medical school.
The Erie campus offers two accelerated pathways to primary care: the Primary Care Scholars Pathway and the Accelerated Physician Assistant Pathway. The Primary Care Scholars program condenses four years of medical education into three years in order to graduate primary care physicians more quickly, and is intended for students interested in family medicine. The Accelerated Physician Assistant Pathway is a fast-tracked, three-year medical school curriculum, which is designed for applicants that have already completed a physician assistant program. PCSP Applicants must make a commitment to completing an primary care residency upon graduation.
After two years of preclinical education on one of the LECOM campuses, third-year and fourth-year students continue their at teaching hospitals and physicians offices. To ensure quality medical training, LECOM has affiliations with more than 100 facilities in nine states. LECOM has also developed regional campuses for clinical education in Northwestern Pennsylvania, Southwestern Pennsylvania, New York City, NY Southern Tier, California/San Diego, Northeast Florida, Southeast Florida and Greater Florida regions.
Post-graduate residence and fellowship training is managed by the Lake Erie Consortium for Osteopathic Medical Training.
Doctor of Pharmacy
The School of Pharmacy offers three pathways for the Doctor of Pharmacy program. One is a year-round, three-year curriculum based on the Erie campus, while another is a four-year traditional curriculum offered at the Bradenton campus. In 2014, the School of Pharmacy added a four-year distance education pathway for students across the United States. LECOM and Creighton University offer the only two distance education pathways for the primary PharmD degree in the nation.Doctor of Dental Medicine
The School of Dental Medicine opened in mid July 2012 to its inaugural class of 100 dental students. The School of Dental Medicine prepares students for the practice of general dentistry. First-year dental students participate in problem-based learning as they prepare for clinical training. The SDM operates full-service dental practice offices in Bradenton where third-year students treat patients under the supervision of licensed dentists. In May 2015, the School opened outreach training sites in Erie, PA and DeFuniak Springs, FL. Fourth-year dental students complete their clinical training at these offices.Graduate Studies
LECOM offers four master's degree programs. In January 2014, the College began the Master in Health Services Administration program. The LECOM MHSA Program provides students with the knowledge and skills required to plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services while working as administrators in hospital or other healthcare facilities, public health care organizations, and private practice groups. The knowledge gained from the MHSA is essential for fiscal, planning and managerial work in healthcare organizations and the establishment and management of clinical practices. In 2017, the College started the Master of Science in Biomedical Ethics degree. The helps healthcare workers develop cultural competency in today's diverse healthcare environment and demonstrates how ethics education leads to behavioral changes that result in a higher level of professionalism and the delivery of top-quality, patient-centered care.In 2018, LECOM received approval for the School of Health Services Administration to manage the MHSA and MSBE programs.
The Master of Science in Medical Education program is designed for healthcare professionals interested in teaching at doctoral and the post-graduate medical education level. A distance option is available with online coursework.
The Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences is a two-year program for students interested in careers in medicine, pharmacy and other health and science related professions. The biomedical sciences program is a graduate-level program intended for post baccalaureate students who wish to enhance their understanding of the biomedical sciences and improve their overall profile to gain admission to medical school, pharmacy school, a biomedical Ph.D. program or enter the biomedical science workplace.
The Master of Medical Science program is a one-year, non-thesis program introduced in 2016 that is designed to academically, scientifically, and professionally prepare students who are interested in careers in medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy. This graduate program is offered exclusively at the LECOM Bradenton campus located in Bradenton, Florida.
The Health Sciences Post-Baccalaureate Program is a two-semester post baccalaureate certificate program designed to enhance the basic science credentials of students interested in pharmacy or medical school. All coursework is conducted on the LECOM campus by the medical and pharmacy school facilities.
Campus
The main campus is located on West Grandview Blvd. in Erie, Pennsylvania, and overlooks Lake Erie. In 2002, the College expanded the main building with a three-story addition which included classroom, laboratory and office space for the School of Pharmacy. In 2011, the college purchased the LORD Corporation Technology Center on adjoining property. The purchase allowed LORD Corporation to keep its Erie operations by moving to a new location just south of the city. LECOM uses what is now the west campus for the LECOM Erie Dental Offices, research labs, and additional classroom space. The college also owns One LECOM Place overlooking Presque Isle Bay in Erie.Additional LECOM facilities in Erie include the John M. and Silvia Ferretti Medical Fitness and Wellness Center which houses a fitness center and clinical offices for Medical Associates of Erie one of the LECOM Health affiliates along with Millcreek Community Hospital, Corry Memorial Hospital, the LECOM Senior Living Center, LECOM Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the Independent Living Communities of Parkside Westminster, Parkside North East, and Regency at South Shore; Visiting Nurses Association of Erie County, and LifeWorks Erie.
LECOM Bradenton is located in the managed community of Lakewood Ranch near Sarasota and Bradenton, Fla. The original campus building houses the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the School of Pharmacy. The School of Dental Medicine is located just north of the original building. Half of the building houses the classrooms, laboratories and offices for the SDM and the SHSA. The other side of the building has dental offices where third-year dental students begin clinical training treating patients from the surrounding communities.
LECOM at Seton Hill is an extension of the LECOM Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine classes. Classrooms, laboratories and offices are housed in two buildings on the Seton Hill University Campus.
In 2018, LECOM received accreditation for a second extension in Elmira, NY for the LECOM Erie. The college will construct a new building on the Elmira College Campus with classes scheduled to start in 2020.
Professional sports partnerships
LECOM officially partnered with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League in 2008. As part of those respective deals, LECOM provides medical coverage to both teams. Additionally, the LECOM's name is featured on the BayHawks' jerseys and court design at Erie Insurance Arena. The BayHawks work out and practice at the LECOM Medical Fitness and Wellness Center. LECOM maintains a similar partnership with the Erie Commodores soccer team.In February 2017, LECOM purchased the naming rights to LECOM Park, the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and their Single-A affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders. The deal will span a period of fifteen years. The college also has educational partnership agreements with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Sabres. As part of the Buffalo Sabres deal LECOM and Pegula Sports and Entertainment reached a 10-year deal for naming rights to LECOM Harborcenter in September 2019. It also has sponsorship agreements with the New York Jets, Baltimore Orioles Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., and the New York Yankees Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.