10 D'MENSIONS MAGAZINE D'YOUVILLE UNIVERSITY 11 FALL 2025 D’YOU KNOW FALL 2025 CAMPUS NEWS “Opening a medical school is more than education, it’s about transforming healthcare access, growing the workforce, and strengthening the fabric of our community. We are grateful for the trust COCA has placed in our vision and eager to build Buffalo’s first medical school in almost 200 years.” DYU-COM will emphasize the osteopathic philosophy of whole- person care and a curriculum that integrates early clinical experience, interprofessional collaboration and a focus on cultural competency. Nearly 50 clinical affiliation agreements with hospitals and healthcare providers across Western New York, Upstate New York and New York City are already in place to ensure medical students have robust clinical training opportunities. “We are intentionally prioritizing clinical partnerships with hospitals and providers serving rural and underserved populations,” Clemo added. “There is a critical shortage of primary care physicians in these communities, and D’Youville looks forward to being part of the solution.” Receiving pre-accreditation is the culmination of years of planning and collaboration by our university and community partners, said Founding Dean Dr. Shawn Cannon, a doctor of osteopathic medicine. “We are assembling a faculty who are not only academically and clinically accomplished, but deeply committed to mentorship, service, and training physicians who reflect the communities they serve,” Cannon said. “DYU-COM will be both accountable to Western New York and a model of excellence in medical education.” Starting with 90 students in fall 2026, DYU-COM will quickly expand to 180 students per class by 2028 — ultimately reaching a capacity of 720 student physicians by 2031. Potential students can now apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service. The first year of instruction will be held on D’Youville’s main campus. In fall 2027, DYU-COM is planning on moving into its permanent home at 285 Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo, a state-of-the-art facility intentionally selected to keep the medical school in the heart of the city. The proposed site for the D’Youville University College of Osteopathic Medicine, at 285 Delaware Avenue. Prospective students can apply at dyu.edu/medicine When Andrew Taylor Still turned 30, he enlisted in the 9th Kansas Cavalry and would become a captain and major in the Kansas Militia during the Civil War. But his grim experiences as a war medic did little to prepare him for what awaited at home after his service. An epidemic of spinal meningitis killed three of his children. His first wife died during childbirth, and a daughter from his second wife died of pneumonia at a young age. Shaken by war and his inability to save his wife and children, Still rejected most of what he had learned about medicine. There had to be another way. He dedicated his life to finding alternative ways to cure disease. In 1870, he completed a short course in medicine at the new College of Physicians and Surgeons in Kansas City, and would begin investigating treatments such as hydropathy [using water in therapeutic treatments], improved diet, bonesetting and magnetic healing. He imagined a day when rational therapy would include manipulation of the musculoskeletal system, surgery and less use of drugs. He named his approach “osteopathic medicine” because of his focus on the musculoskeletal system. He founded the first school of osteopathic medicine — the American School of Osteopathy [now A.T. Still University] — in Kirksville, Mo., in 1892. Today, there are 43 accredited osteopathic medical schools in the United States. Osteopathic graduates (DOs) have the same training as allopathic graduates (MDs). Legally and professionally, they’re equals and can apply for the same residencies nationwide. The biggest difference between MDs and DOs is the philosophical approach to patient care and the additional training DOs receive in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment. While MDs follow a more disease-focused, allopathic model, DOs receive a holistic education emphasizing the interconnectedness of the body, mind and spirit, and learn hands-on OMT techniques to diagnose and treat conditions. MDs have been around longer. DOs are newer, but growing. In the 2023- 24 academic year, more than 38,000 osteopathic medical students were studying to become osteopathic physicians, an all-time high. This represented more than a 65 percent increase in the last decade. HIGHLIGHTS • First new medical school in WNY in 180 years. • Four years of planning and community collaboration led to COCA approval. • COCA is the only accrediting body for osteopathic schools in the U.S. Receiving pre- accreditation means COCA has reviewed D’Youville’s application, facilities, finances, curriculum, leadership and planning and has determined that the university meets the standards required to begin enrolling medical students. • Nearly 50 signed affiliation agreements for clinical training across New York. • Curriculum prioritizes primary care specialties: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/ GYN, General Surgery and Psychiatry. • Growth plan: 90 students in 2026, scaling to 180 per class by 2028, with a total enrollment of 720 by 2031. New school will be in heart of Buffalo, near DYU campus Building not only investment in education and health care, but also ‘in our region’s future’ 285 DELAWARE AVENUE is the planned location for the first college of osteopathic medicine in Western New York. The creation of a new medical school is expected to have a transformative impact — both on D’Youville and the broader Western New York region. At full capacity, the program will bring hundreds of new students to the city, strengthen D’Youville’s undergraduate health programs, attract new talent, and build a stronger pipeline to local healthcare providers, many of which are facing critical workforce shortages. Located just over a mile from D’Youville’s main campus, the 285 Delaware site was intentionally selected to keep the medical school in the heart of Buffalo. Developed in partnership with Uniland Development, the building reflects the university’s long-standing commitment to remaining embedded in the city and strengthening its accessibility and connection to the community. “Bringing a medical school to Buffalo aligns with our mission to transform healthcare education in ways that are community- focused, equitable and rooted in the neighborhoods we serve,” said President Dr. Lorrie Clemo. “This new building is not just an investment in education — it’s an investment in our region’s future.” According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. could face a shortage of 17,800 to 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034. In New York State alone, more than 27,000 physicians are expected to retire in the coming years. “With a growing portfolio of advanced degree programs across healthcare, education, and leadership, the university is deeply committed to preparing graduates for the highest levels of professional practice,” said Clemo. “The new site expands both our reach and our ability to meet critical workforce needs across Buffalo and beyond.” So, what is osteopathic medicine?
