Partnership enhances educational pathways to medicine by providing five interview slots for SCU graduates
WHITTIER, CA – (Feb. 24, 2023) — Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) has announced a new partnership with A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) to expand access to education for aspiring physicians looking to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. Through this partnership, five annual interview slots are reserved for SCU students who graduate from the Master of Science in Medical Science (MSMS) program for consideration of acceptance to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree program at A.T. Still University. The two-year agreement began in January 2023 and will be reviewed every two years.
SCU’s post-baccalaureate MSMS program is designed to assist students who would like to enhance their academic credentials for entry into medical, dental, physician assistant, veterinarian, or other professional healthcare programs. The MSMS degree program is offered both online as well as a hybrid/blended format, and can be completed in as little as one year. The program mirrors the traditional first year of medical school in its design, pace, and rigor and prepares students for success in their first year of medical school.
ATSU-SOMA prepares individuals through high-quality, innovative, learning-centered undergraduate and graduate medical education programs to become compassionate osteopathic physicians and healthcare leaders who serve medically underserved populations with a focus on research and community-oriented primary care.
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are fully-licensed physicians who practice in all areas of medicine. Emphasizing a whole-person approach to treatment and care, DOs are trained to listen to, and partner with their patients to promote health. DOs receive special training in the osteopathic manipulative medicine, the musculoskeletal system, as well as the body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones. Osteopathic physicians focus on the mind, body and spirit, by addressing how lifestyle and environment impact wellbeing. More than one in four of all current U.S. medical students are enrolled in an osteopathic medical program, according to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).
“ATSU-SOMA is pleased to join SCU in granting opportunities for their MSMS graduates to explore osteopathic medical education as an optimal path toward providing healthcare to the nation’s most vulnerable patients and communities,” said ATSU-SOMA Dean Sharon Obadia, DO, FNAOME.
“This new agreement is excellent news for SCU MSMS students with dreams of becoming DOs,” said Raheleh Khorsan, Ph.D., program director, MSMS Program at SCU. “SCU is proud to have been educating medical science students since our MSMS Program began in 2020. This agreement creates the opportunity to increase the number of both medical sciences students, and future medical students at ATSU-SOMA. It is through institutional agreements such as this that our common goal can be reached—to increase health sciences and medical students to fill the need for additional healthcare professionals for communities.”
A letter of endorsement for SCU MSMS students to be interviewed under the agreement must be submitted by the Pre-Health Advising Program Director to ATSU-Admissions by Sept. 30 of the annual admissions cycle. To be selected for candidacy, SCU applicants must meet ATSU-SOMA admission requirements.
“Preparing and training healthcare professionals to address growing needs for a growing population is a shared goal between our universities. We are proud of this partnership for the benefit our students’ success in their goals toward becoming future care providers for our communities,” said SCU President John Scaringe, DC, Ed.D.
To learn more, visit the SCU MSMS Partner Medical Schools page.