JONESBORO, Ark. – A new program at Arkansas State University to track incoming freshmen to become physicians was announced on Tuesday.
Officials said the Freshman to Physician Pathway program is a joint effort between A-State and the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. They added that it is designed to increase the number of physicians serving in rural communities.
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School officials said that since opening its Jonesboro campus in Wilson Hall in 2016, NYITCOM has graduated 650 new doctors in six classes. Nearly 70% of those graduates from Arkansas have chosen to stay and practice in the state.
Students joining the pathway must meet certain requirements, officials said, including initial pursuit of a BS in biological sciences with a pre-professional studies emphasis, application to NYITCOM in their third year, a 3.5 or better GPA and passing an interview with NYITCOM.
Students who meet the requirements are not required to take the MCAT, officials said.
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A spokesperson said NYITCOM’s osteopathic philosophy emphasizes whole-person wellness, prevention and community health, making it particularly aligned with the needs of Arkansas. Graduates go on to pursue a wide range of specialties, they said, with many choosing family medicine, internal medicine, emergency care and OB-GYN, fields in especially high demand throughout the state.
Applications for the Freshman to Physician Pathway open this fall for students entering A-State in 2025. A similar program is in development for A-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, with an expected launch in fall 2026.
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Additional information on the program is available at AState.edu/FreshmanToPhysician.
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