The New York Institute of Technology plans to expand its College of Osteopathic Medicine by establishing a new facility at Arkansas State University, which college officials said would aid a portion of the United States in need of medical professionals.
NYIT trustees on Friday approved an agreement to commit approximately $4 million for renovations to an existing building on Arkansas State’s Jonesboro campus for the medical school as well as provide equipment and staffing.
“We have developed a great respect for and excellent working relationship with the leaders of Arkansas State University and are delighted that NYIT will bring a new medical school to their campus,” said Edward Giuliano, the president of NYIT. “We will work together to develop the human capacity in health care in one of the most underserved regions in the United States. We all feel proud to serve the public, higher education and the medical community through this rewarding endeavor.”
The agreement comes a few weeks after the Arkansas State board of trustees approved the partnership with NYIT in late February.
Currently, there is only one medical school in Arkansas, at the University of Arkansas. Osteopathic medical students in the region attend colleges in Kansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.
NYIT’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, situated on the school’s Old Westbury campus, has an enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. The program’s tuition is approximately $52,000 per year.
“I can’t say enough good things about this project, the NYIT administration and the impact this medical school will have on transforming this institution and region,” Charles Welch, president of Arkansas State University, said at the time. “I appreciate the leadership of [Arkansas State] Chancellor Tim Hudson, Vice Chancellor Jason Penry and the rest of our team for their work on this.”
NYIT officials said they expect approximately 115 students to enroll for the program as early as the fall 2016 semester if the proposed school receives the proper accreditations in time.
Barbara Ross-Lee, the school’s vice president of health sciences and medical affairs, said NYIT’s goal is for graduates to practice in the region to address Arkansas’ growing need for physicians.
“NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine has a distinguished record of producing family physicians and internists,” Ross-Lee said. “With this new medical school, we’re sharing our experience with a part of the country with a recognized health need and primary-care physician shortage.”
