The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine have announced a formal linkage agreement designed to strengthen the pathway between ACHE’s Master of Science in Biomedicine program and ARCOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program.
The agreement guarantees qualified MSB students admission or an interview with ARCOM, expanding access to medical education in Arkansas. They will also need a formal recommendation from the MSB program director, an additional letter of recommendation from an MSB faculty member. Students who earn a minimum 3.2 GPA in their fall semester, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA overall, meet admissions requirements, and remain in good conduct standing will receive guaranteed acceptance. Those who complete the program with a 3.0 GPA in good standing will be guaranteed an interview.
“This agreement reflects our continued commitment to student success and to strengthening the pathway to medical education in Arkansas and beyond,” said Kyle D. Parker, president and CEO of ACHE.
Since its launch in 2019, the MSB program has placed more than 170 students — about 90 percent of its graduates — into medical schools across the country, with most choosing to remain at ARCOM.
“We want to provide our students and our prospective students with the opportunity to achieve their dreams of attending medical school,” said Matthew White, director of the MSB program. “With that, I’m very pleased to announce this guaranteed pathway into ARCOM.”
Students say the program’s benefits are clear.
“For me, the ACHE MSB program was the best academic decision ever in terms of preparation for my academic career in medical school,” said Antonio Gachineiro, an MSB graduate and current ARCOM student. “Linking the MSB program with ARCOM is extremely beneficial for the school and for the students, given that the pathway for medical school applications is extremely time-consuming, expensive and stressful.”
ARCOM Dean Shannon Jimenez said the linkage supports students who may be non-traditional, underrepresented, or first-generation.
“The MSB program not only prepares them academically, but also provides the confidence and resilience that we know makes for outstanding healthcare providers,” said Jimenez.
ACHE, based in Fort Smith, trains healthcare professionals across a range of programs with the mission of improving the health and wellness of the communities they serve.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: ACHE, ARCOM announce linkage agreement for medical students
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