The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) in Meridian is starting its fall classes with a record first-year class of 231 students, including 38 from Idaho. The students come from 125 colleges and universities in 31 states.
Addressing Idaho’s Physician Shortage
ICOM is working to help solve the physician shortage crisis in Idaho, which ranks last in the nation in physicians per capita. Lawmakers have discussed using taxpayer money to subsidize Idaho students’ medical tuition at ICOM, similar to the state’s partnerships with medical schools at the University of Washington and University of Utah.
Idaho has no current partnership with ICOM, but the school is closely aligned with Idaho State University and its adjacent Meridian campus. ICOM Chief Academic Officer Kevin Wilson expressed excitement about the new students, stating that they are beginning their journey to become caring and competent osteopathic physicians prepared to care for people in Idaho and other underserved communities across the United States.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
