A partnership between Troy University and the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) was established when a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Sept. 23.
“This memorandum reflects the friendship and mutual respect of our institutions,” said ACOM Dean and Chief Academic Officer Dr. James Jones. “It builds on our shared goal of advancing higher education in Alabama, and to serve the healthcare needs of our communities.
“I’m confident that this MOU not only reflects the ongoing collaboration of our two institutions but will also give us a strong platform for future collaborations and initiatives.”
MOU allows Troy biomedical students a guaranteed interview for admission consideration into ACOM. ACOM is Alabama’s first osteopathic medical school and the academic division of Southeast Health.
“When you begin as a teaching institution, then add public service, and now to be on the threshold of becoming a research university…that’s the maturity of an institution,” said Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. “That’s what we see at Troy.
“This partnership has great meaning to our students and to the state of Alabama. We treasure this relationship and look forward to doing greater things with ACOM in the future.”
Priority status will be given to students who score a 498 or higher on the medical college admission test (MCAT) and have a 3.0 GPA. Priority status also allows students the perk of having an earlier interview date than anyone else.
Madilyn Webb, a senior biomedical sciences major from Enterprise, Alabama, believes this signed agreement clears obstacles out of students’ ways.
“I think this partnership will help many students who are thinking of applying to medical school because there is a guaranteed pathway that students can take,” Webb said. “Having a direct path is always comforting, and again, there is significantly less financial burden.”
ACOM admissions will be giving out offer letters to applicants who have a minimum MCAT of 500; a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and ACOM prerequisite courses GPA of 3.2 or higher, this all considering repeated and withdrawn coursework. Requirements don’t stop there, as applicants must have a timely and satisfactory completion of the student admission application, have a satisfactory in-person interview and get the approval of the admission committee.
In addition to the signed MOU, students will also have a chance to be recruited in-person by ACOM and have advisement sessions on the Troy campus, including mock interviews.
Space is limited and the competition is fierce as ACOM admits 200 medical students each year, but through the MOU students will receive plenty of facetime with ACOM admission personnel.
Brenna Waites, a junior biomedical science major from Abingdon, Virginia, knows about this all too well.
“It is no secret that the medical field is hard, and getting into those upper-level programs, whether it be med school, nursing school, vet school, dental school, etc. is extremely difficult,” Waites said. “Not only are we as students expected to have good grades and an outstanding GPA, but we are also supposed to have leadership skills, extracurricular activities, research hours, shadow hours, patience care experience and still take time to ourselves so we don’t get burnt out.
“It is extremely difficult to balance everything plus think about what school you want to go to and the application process. The agreement between Troy and ACOM helps eliminate some of that worry. Having the ability to practice the interview process and being guaranteed an interview is a huge relief.”
“We are excited about this opportunity to provide Troy University students with an avenue to pursue their dream of becoming a physician,” said ACOM Director of Community Partnerships Dr. Christina Kennedy. “This agreement allows us to strengthen our relationship with Troy University, and it opens a door for us to recruit some of Troy University’s brightest students to ACOM, while streamlining the admissions process.”
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