The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal May 2019 Final 2 | Page 6

by CASEY L. PENN
Osteopathic Medical Schools in Arkansas
Working to Lessen Future Shortages, Increase Access to Care
U
ntil 2016, Arkansas had only
one medical school. Founded
in 1879 and still the only tradi-
tional (allopathic) medical school in the
state, the UAMS College of Medicine is
a comprehensive academic medical
center that plays a vital role in edu-
cating Arkansas physicians. Today, how-
ever, Arkansas is also home to two more medical
schools, both osteopathic in nature. This month,
we bring you an update on the state’s osteopathic
medical schools, New York Institute of Technology
College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State
University in Jonesboro and Arkansas College of
Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith.
Osteopathic and allopathic schools both of-
fer a means to become a licensed physician in
this nation.
NYITCOM at Arkansas State medical students Matt Gorecki, Mirsha Stevens,
Katherine Byrd, and Jay Patel.
In addition, osteopathic medical schools tend
to produce more primary care physicians.* “DOs
can – and do – enter any specialty from neuro-
surgery to radiation/oncology,” said Dr. Speights.
“However, about 60% of DOs, nationally, migrate
to generalist specialties (family medicine, internal
medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, OB/GYN,
emergency medicine). When we talk about the
needs of the state, shortages in those general areas
really stand out.”
They educate through many of the same
courses – gross anatomy, biochemistry, pharma-
cology, pathophysiology, etc. In addition, they share
similar degree paths consisting of two years in
the classroom and two more in rotation, followed
by three-plus years of residency. The osteopathic
difference is indicated by the term itself, as NYIT-
COM Dean Shane Speights, DO,
A Medical School with a
explained. The term osteopathic
Heart for the Delta
denotes an emphasis on the struc-
NYITCOM at A-State oper-
ture and function of the human
ates through a public-private part-
body coupled with manipulative
nership between Arkansas State
medicine. “On the osteopathic side,
University and NYIT College of
we embrace the whole body,” he
Osteopathic Medicine in Old West-
said. “In my opinion, this can also
bury, New York. The A-State cam-
occur in allopathic schools; it’s just
pus is accredited for 115 students
that we put that at the forefront. We
have an osteopathic manipulative
per class, and by the fall of 2019,
medicine lab and a common belief
will reach full capacity at 460 to-
Shane Speights, DO
that the body has the innate ability
tal students. The applicant pool is
to heal itself if given the chance. That’s not to say quite large, while the acceptance rate is tiny, just
that DOs don’t prescribe medications (antibiotics, 6.1%. About 80% of students come from within the
chemotherapies, etc.) or perform surgery. They do.” school’s target market, which encompasses Arkan-
246 • THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY
sas and surrounding states. The student population
is roughly 50% male and 50% female, with under-
represented minorities at about 14%. 
NYITCOM’s mission is to create and retain
more physicians who stay and practice here in Ar-
kansas, particularly in underserved areas around
the state. “It isn’t a job that one institution can
solve,” said Dr. Speights. “It takes a collaborative
effort amongst many institutions, hospitals, medical
schools, residency training programs, and commu-
nities. To truly see results, you must have enough
physicians graduating from a medical school in the
state that can then flow into residency programs in
the state to try to increase the number that will stay
in the state. We know that of medical students that
graduate from a medical school in Arkansas and at-
tend a residency program in Arkansas and graduate
from that program, 80% of those graduates (based
on current data), will remain in the state or region.**
That’s a statistic we need to capitalize on.”
NYITCOM at A-State cares for all Arkansans,
but is particularly committed to improving the
quality of life in the Mississippi Delta region. “It’s
always been our focus to make a positive impact in
this, one of the poorest, most underserved regions
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