Inaugural Trustees and officers instated.
PROVO, Utah, Mar. 26, 2019 – The Board of Trustees for the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine met for the first time Monday and instated Trustee members and approved bylaws and policies. Francis Gibson, MSW, MBA, Utah House Representative and House Majority Leader, and CEO of Orem Community Hospital was appointed Chair.
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine and will oversee management responsibility for the construction, completion, and eventual operation of the proposed college as well as the management of the accreditation process.
The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine will be established in Provo and has received broad support financially and throughout Utah County. The makeup of the Trustee members demonstrates this support.
In addition to the instatement of the new Board of Trustees, the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine received letters of endorsement from Provo City, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Utah Hospital Association, the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, Utah County Commissioners, Provo School District, hospital systems and elected officials.
See the inaugural proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine Board of Trustee members here.
Board Officers approved and instated include:
- Francis Gibson, MSW, MBA, Board Chair
- Morris D. Linton, Board Vice-chair
- Sean R. Curzon, Board Secretary
- Trevor Smith, Board Treasurer
The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine executive officers approved by the Board:
- Richard P. Nielsen, PT, DHSc, ECS, Founding President and Chief Executive Officer
- John Dougherty, Founding Dean
- Jennifer Brown, CNT, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
- Michael Rhodes, MD, Associate Dean for Medical Affairs
- Jeff Bate, MBA, Chief Financial Office
Speaking to the Board, Gibson said, “The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine will be vital for the community, the state, and the world. I’m looking forward to working with each of you on the Board who will sacrifice and donate your time to make this medical school a great school.”
One of the key goals of the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is to help increase the supply of doctors in the region. According to studies by the Association of American Medical Colleges, Utah is ranked 49th in the nation for active patient care, primary care physicians per 100,000 population and 44th in the nation for active physicians per 100,000. Utah is ranked 44th among all states in the number of MD and DO student enrollments with most Utah resident medical students leaving the state to pursue their medical degrees.
“As a state we are growing at a very fast pace,” said Gibson. “We already know students will stay and work where they are educated. This school will give Utah students an opportunity to receive a medical education they can use to provide healthcare to people throughout the state.”
The appointed executive staff and Board will now focus on the accreditation process as construction begins on the proposed medical school campus.
The architect for the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is MHTN Architects based in Salt Lake City. The construction project is managed by Westland Construction based in Orem, Utah.
About the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine would be an independent and freestanding institution overseen by a governing Board of Trustees located in Provo, Utah.
Founded and located in Provo, Utah in June 1998, Wasatch Educational will manage the development of the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. www.wasatcheducational.com. Wasatch Educational is the holding company of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. The mission of Wasatch Educational is to promote and develop healthcare education institutions.
Contact:
A. Cory Maloy
Maloy PR
801-877-3112
cory@maloypr.com
