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Fauci Effect: More than 2,000 students apply at Provo’s Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

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Currently enrolling inaugural class of 90 medical students

PROVO, Utah, Jan. 13, 2021 – The Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) Board of Trustees announced it has received nearly 2,100 applications to date for its inaugural 2021 class of 90 students. The significant and diverse number of applicants follows a national trend of increased medical school applications due in part to the so-called “Fauci Effect.”

The Fauci Effect is a reference to an approximately 18 percent increase, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, in the number of students applying to medical school throughout the United States for the 2021 academic year – a significant increase from the same time in 2020. Many of the applicants indicate they want to go into medicine to help solve the COVID-19 problem or indicating the pandemic has heightened their resolve in attending medical school.

Prospective students among the nearly 2,100 applicants to Noorda-COM will soon be accepted for enrollment after the college was recently granted Pre-Accreditation status from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), paving the way for the college to begin enrolling students for its fall 2021 inaugural class.

“The students we are enrolling for this inaugural class have planned to go to medical school for many years,” said the founding dean and chief academic officer Dr. John Dougherty.  “The COVID-19 pandemic may have confirmed their commitment to pursue medicine, but we believe we will see an even greater impact on enrollment related to the pandemic in the coming years.”

Noorda-COM also announced it has established affiliation partner agreements with most of the healthcare systems, many hospitals, and physician practice groups in Utah. The affiliation partnerships will allow Noorda-COM’s future third-year students to complete core clinical education at facilities within an easy 30- 40-minute drive from the Noorda-COM campus in Provo. This will make it easier for students to stay in Utah to meet their clinical education (rotation) requirements.

Noorda-COM Pre-Accreditation Status

Since receiving the status to recruit students in July, Noorda-COM has received nearly 2,000 applications from a diverse group of prospective students. Noorda-COM’s application pool to date is in the top-five most diverse osteopathic colleges in the country. This level of interest also reinforces a trend across the country that the COVID-19 pandemic may be encouraging many people to go into medicine. The fall 2021 inaugural class will include 90 medical students. When all four years are at maximum enrollment, Noorda-COM will have 194 medical students in each class, becoming the Intermountain West’s largest medical school.

“Reaching this important milestone in Noorda-COM’s accreditation process is the result of several years of hard work on the part of many individuals within the Noorda-COM campus community,” said Dougherty. “Now that we have received Pre-Accreditation, we are excited to move forward in welcoming our inaugural class of students in 2021.”

The Pre-Accreditation designation comes after an application process which included two comprehensive self-studies, a virtual site visit, and stringent reviews by the COCA Commissioners. It has been a challenging process, but successful due to the ongoing collaborations of Noorda-COM’s faculty, staff, trustees and clinical partners.

“We couldn’t be more excited to reach this most important step in the accreditation process for Noorda-COM,” said Dr. Richard P. Nielsen, Noorda-COM founding president and CEO. “Pre-Accreditation allows Noorda-COM to fully move onward in opening its doors for medical students in the fall of 2021. Pursuant to COCA regulations, Noorda-COM can qualify for full accreditation status once the inaugural class graduates.”

Noorda-COM Affiliation Partners

“Not only will students be able to stay locally for their core third-year rotations, they will experience a variety of healthcare systems and facilities from an operational standpoint, as well as gaining valuable inpatient and outpatient experience,” said Dr. Michael Rhodes, associate dean of clinical affairs at Noorda-COM. “It goes beyond our students affiliating with multiple medical systems, it exposes them to a diversity of patients, various approaches to medicine and healthcare, and different ways of thinking.”

Affiliation partners include Intermountain Healthcare and its system of hospitals:  Utah Valley Hospital, Orem Community Hospital, American Fork Hospital, Riverton Hospital, the future Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, Utah, and the future Spanish Fork Hospital. Additional partners include Steward Health’s Mountain Point Hospital and Jordan Valley Medical Center, Revere Health’s subspecialty clinics, Utah State Hospital, Provo Canyon Behavioral Hospital, Utah Valley Specialty Hospital, Premiere Family Medicine, Canyon View Medical Group, Southwest Spine and Pain, Utah Valley Pediatrics, Utah Surgical Associates, and a partnership with Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi, Utah and Castleview Hospital in Price, Utah who can provide students with experience in rural settings.

It is anticipated additional partnerships could be added over time.

Noorda-COM is using a six-week clinical curricular model. The extended on-campus preparation and testing will better prepare Noorda-COM students for their patient care.

These affiliation partnerships provide a resource for Noorda-COM medical students who, with the curriculum model, will stay on campus the first week of their six-week clinical education running through scenarios and simulations before beginning their rotations during weeks two through five. Following each rotation, students will be tested on what they learned. The rotation programs are being developed based on the curriculum with the assistance of the affiliation partners.

“It is very important for the students to be in close proximity to the medical school for their rotations,” said Rhodes. “A number of our students will be married, and some will have families. It can become disruptive for them to pick up and move to do one month in one specialty, and then move again for a specialty in a different area. Also, by having these rotation sites here in Utah, Juab, and Salt Lake counties, students from Noorda-COM can have a positive impact on healthcare in our local communities. It is much better for the students and for the community when they can receive their experiences all in one area due to the great affiliation partnerships we’ve been able to start here.”

The inaugural class of Noorda-COM students will begin in the fall of 2021. They will become third year students in the fall of 2023 when they begin their clinical education with these affiliation partners.

Quotes from some of Noorda-COM’s affiliation partners:

Intermountain Healthcare

“Intermountain Healthcare is committed to being part of this workforce of the future and we look forward to partnering with Noorda-COM and others across the state,” said Marc Harrison, MD, Intermountain Healthcare president and CEO, and Mark Briesacher, MD, chief physician executive of Intermountain Healthcare, in a letter. “The future of healthcare in Utah is bright and with the growth we’re experiencing, Utah has an unprecedented opportunity to shape the healthcare delivery workforce of the future. This diverse workforce will meet patients, families and consumers where they are at, provide the safest and best care, and do so in an affordable and sustainable way.”

Mountain Point Medical Center (A Steward Health Care Hospital)

“It is wonderful Noorda-COM is coming to our community,” said Kent Loosle, president of Mountain Point Medical Center. “It will be a wonderful way for local Utah students to receive their medical education and degrees and will also help our hospital in the recruitment of highly qualified physicians. We are pleased to play an important role with our participation as an affiliation partner for the benefit of Noorda-COM’s students and our community.”

Revere Health

“As one of the largest and fastest-growing healthcare providers in Utah, we’re excited to have an additional educational institution providing physician training in the area, the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine,” said Scott Barlow, CEO of Revere Health. “This will allow those interested in a career in medicine to have an additional opportunity for their training. Revere Health is excited to provide clinical rotations to assist in that training process. We look forward to recruiting those students to add to our medical staff to further achieve our success in improving health outcomes and lowering the costs of healthcare for the patients of this region.”

Castleview Hospital, Price, Utah

“We are excited to be involved with Noorda-COM in the education of medical students and helping them see the benefits of what rural medicine has to offer,” said Dr. Travis Engar, DO, Chief of Staff at Castleview Hospital. “Many highly trained physicians choose to practice in rural areas to have a closer relationship with their patients as they often associate with them in their community as well. This creates a strong sense of family and belonging that isn’t easy to experience in an urban environment. There are fabulous physicians in rural Utah that are highly skilled and adept at what they do. They have purposefully chosen rural medicine over metropolitan positions for that patient relationship and the uncongested outdoor lifestyle. We look forward to providing excellent training as well as offering a different perspective of medicine than what students experience in urban or university settings.”

Utah Valley Specialty Hospital

“The team at Utah Valley Specialty Hospital is excited to have the opportunity to work with Noorda-COM and play a small part in educating the next generation of physicians,” said Brynn Beck, CEO, Utah Valley Specialty Hospital.

Premier Family Medical

“Premier Family Medical is pleased to participate in the clinical experience of Noorda-COM students. We feel that this is a unique opportunity to teach the young doctors and to continue our own education and development,” said Michael L Cosgrave, MD, Premier Family Medical.

About the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

Located in Provo, Utah, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) is a medical school offering an innovative and unique medical education approach. Noorda-COM provides 21st-century medical students a curricular model blending active, small group learning with advanced laboratory experiences and research opportunities while also emphasizing school and life balance with a commitment to health and wellness. Noorda-COM focuses on preparing future residency-ready physicians committed to providing patient-centered healthcare. Noorda-COM is a private, proprietary institution. A governing Board of Trustees oversees Noorda-COM, which received Pre-Accreditation Status by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. https://noordacom.org

Contact:
A. Cory Maloy
Maloy PR
801-877-3112
cory@maloypr.com

January 13, 2021
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Schyler Richards Appointed by the Proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine as Vice President of Institutional Advancement

By Campus NewsNo Comments

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 27, 2020 – The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) today announced the appointment of Schyler Richards as Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

In her role, Richards will provide counsel on the College’s outreach to external audiences, fundraising, alumni relations, marketing, communications, advertising, media, government relations, and community relations.

“We couldn’t be more impressed with the level of experience and leadership Schyler brings to the proposed Noorda-COM,” said Dr. Richard P. Nielsen, founding president and CEO of the proposed Noorda-COM. “Her expertise will be crucial during the next few years and beyond as we continue to build the curriculum, hire a complete faculty, build a prestigious research consortium, build a medical education and research campus, build the proposed medical school and invite our inaugural class of medical students in the fall of 2021.”

Richards served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Touro University in Nevada. She also served at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas holding numerous positions, including Associate Vice President for Alumni & External Relations, Associate Vice President for Community Relations, Chief of Staff to the University President, and Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship.

“I am grateful to become a member of the founding executive team at the proposed Noorda-COM,” said Richards. “Together, we will create a great institution to provide local students with the professional medical skills needed to serve the people of Utah, across the country, and around the globe. Our students will join medical students from other Utah medical schools in addressing the on-going shortage of physicians in Utah and across the country.”

The proposed Noorda-COM received Candidate Status in June of 2019 as part of the accreditation process from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). It recently received the accreditation status of Rights to Recruit, allowing the proposed Noorda-COM to begin recruiting its inaugural class.

About the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is an independent and freestanding institution overseen by a governing Board of Trustees located in Provo, Utah. Its Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program is designed to train outstanding future physicians. Its mission is to empower students with essential personal and professional skills to be competent, confident, and compassionate osteopathic physicians. The college has achieved Candidate with Rights to Recruit Status by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

Contact:
A. Cory Maloy
Maloy PR
801-877-3112
cory@maloypr.com

October 27, 2020
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First PID Funding Awarded to Noorda-COM and RMUoHP

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In late August, Noorda-COM and Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions received $42.8 million to help create infrastructure for the new Medical Education and Research Campus (MERC).  The funding was the first in Utah since the Utah Legislature passed Senate Bill 228 to allow the formation of a Public Infrastructure District (PID) to finance new development and redevelopment projects across the state.

The funding will be used to start infrastructure projects on the expanded campus site such as roads, sewer, and electrical installation.   “The development of the MERC will have a profound and positive impact on Utah County and the entire state and region,” said Dr. Richard Nielsen.  “We are honored to be the first recipients of this funding in the State of Utah and believe it is a testament to our past success and our future promise to all Utahns.”

The bond issuance and the ability to begin infrastructure on the campus is important to recruiting students and faculty as well as in building awareness with the communities of Utah.  “The medical school’s goal is to attract the highest caliber students, including those local students who want to stay in Utah for their medical education,” said Dr. John Dougherty.

This funding represents a true collaborative effort which was led by Noorda-COM board member John Nemelka and which was orchestrated by D.A. Davidson & Company’s Special District Group and supported by Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, the city administration, and the Provo City Municipal Council.

October 1, 2020
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October COVID-19 Update

By Campus NewsNo Comments

The Noorda-COM campus continues to exercise caution and follow CDC guidelines for Healthcare Professionals as it relates to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.  As of September 19th, due to the unprecedented spike in Coronavirus cases setting new records in Utah, Noorda-COM has issued a limited work from home order for all non-essential work.  This should allow for an overall decrease in the number of employees on campus and will help protect our faculty and staff while mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

As Noorda-COM continues to move forward with the admissions process, interviews with prospective students will be held via video as well in keeping with national standards.  The curriculum for students has also been updated to provide PPE training at the end of the first year, prior to their first shift as a medical scribe.  Noorda-COM has also updated the Student Handbook and Student Health Policies with COVID-19 specific criteria and the curricular model can be modified if necessary if the pandemic continues into next year.

To date, there has been only one reported COVID-19 case on campus, and that individual, although suffering complications which required hospitalization, followed all protocols and self-quarantined until approved to return to work.  We are grateful that individual is fully recovered and back at work.

October 1, 2020
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Research Consortium Formed to Address Utah’s Behavioral Health Needs

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Representatives from Noorda-COM, Brigham Young University, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Utah Valley University, and Roseman University recently came together to form a new research consortium.

At a meeting held on September 25th, and hosted by Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, the group began the work of forming the Utah Behavioral Health Research Consortium.  Mayor Kaufusi set the tone for the meeting by stating that “mental illness is significant and impacts so many people. This topic is near and dear to me because I see how it affects the citizens of Provo and I will do everything I can to support the Consortium’s work.”

The Consortium goals are to substantively advance the basic and clinical science related to behavioral health in the State of Utah with particular emphasis on reducing addiction, depression, and anxiety. The institutions met to discuss and work toward formalizing research relationships. Discussions included data-sharing, reciprocal faculty appointments, space sharing, inter-institutional student training programs, undergraduate and graduate training fellowships, and resource sharing.

“We seek to formalize ties between interested regional research institutions to leverage thought, equipment, space, and resources to accomplish the Consortium’s research aims,” said Dr. Kyle Bills, Noorda-COM’s Associate Dean of Research who is spearheading the formation of the group.  “Additionally, we seek to work closely with philanthropically-minded private sector partners to expand the reach and impact of scientific advances.”

For more information about the Utah Behavioral Health Research Consortium, please contact Dr. Bills at kbbills@noordacom.org or at 801-380-6181.

October 1, 2020
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Employee Profile – October

By Culture + CommunityNo Comments

Casey Himmeslbach, MBA, MSML

Associate Dean of Student Affairs

Casey Himmelsbach. Dean of Student affairs at noorda com

Casey Himmelsbach joined Noorda-COM during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, coming to Utah from her hometown of Joplin, Missouri. No stranger to overcoming challenges, Casey describes herself as caring, thoughtful, and determined – three characteristics which have defined her both personally and professionally.

Casey’s passion for education started with her mother.  “She had an eighth-grade education and completed her GED as a single mom with no support from my incarcerated father,” said Himmelsbach.  “She taught me how to read by the time I was three and instilled in me the belief that college was not an option but a requirement.”

To help support her family, Casey attended her local university where she excelled in a rigorous honors program while also working fulltime.  She graduated with a BS in Health Promotion and had already begun her full-time job as a public health educator at a rural health department before graduation.

Casey Himmelsbach and her mother

Then an EF-5 tornado devastated her hometown, and she redirected her attention for helping to rebuild the community that built her.  After holding positions in healthcare and education – all focused on connecting students to future careers in healthcare – Casey jumped at the chance to be a part of a new College of Osteopathic Medicine opening in Joplin.

Casey went on to obtain her master’s in management and leadership as well as her MBA.  But this path required tenacity and determination.  “Within three months of my program starting, my world turned upside down, said Himmelsbach.  “My father entered hospice, my mother passed away, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, I almost lost my husband to a line-of-duty shooting, and I helped start a brand new medical school campus, all during my studies!”

After learning about Noorda-COM through the close circles within the osteopathic medical education community, Casey became interested in joining Noorda-COM because of its student-centric philosophy.  “I knew that Noorda-COM was a place that I wanted to be in order to help make the changes that I knew would benefit our students, the medical education system, and our future patients, for the better. I am very excited to be here and help lead a team of compassionate, caring, and competent student affairs professionals.”

Casey is building a team in Student Affairs that will help shape and guide the inaugural class of Noorda-COM medical students and beyond.  According to Himmelsbach, “our team brings a diverse background of life experiences, education, and varied perspectives on how we can best serve our students.”  The student affairs team demonstrates their passion for working with and helping students achieve their goals.  “I want to inspire my team to work hard, take care of themselves and others, and to model life-long learning and growth to our students,” said Himmelsbach.

This work-live balance mantra is demonstrated by Casey to her colleagues, friends, and future students.  A self-defined “complete nerd”, she loves reading, her family games together (in fact, Casey and her 11-year-old daughter are currently cooperatively playing through the complete Halo franchise), and she loves attending concerts and festivals.

Casey Himmelsbach and her family

A caring nature, perseverance, and the promise she made to her mother got Casey through challenging times and has led her to the place she is today. Dean Dougherty often says that she wears her heart on her sleeve but for Casey it is truly a passion to help connect people with their dreams.  “I like to lay out a vision for the best-case scenario and help people connect their own dots,” said Himmelsbach.  “If you tell me something is not possible, I will do my best to figure out a way to make it happen.  I love a challenge.”

 

Casey Himmelsbach can be reached at cjhimmelsbach@noordacom.org.

October 1, 2020
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Noorda-COM Approved to Recruit Students

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Earlier this summer, Noorda-COM received approval from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) to begin recruiting students for its inaugural class of medical students.

This is the next major step toward pre-accreditation status for Noorda-COM and came after the Association’s June meeting and a two-year application process.  To date, more than 1,300 applications have been received since Noorda-COM began the admissions process in August.  The first class will be comprised of 90 students when instruction begins next fall.  It is anticipated Noorda-COM could receive between 3,500 to 5,000 applications for the 90 available seats.

“We believe applicants want to come to Noorda-COM because we will be student-centered in fact, not just in words only,” said Casey Himmelsbach, Associate Dean of Student Affairs.  Noorda-COM is also committed to being a school of first choice for students from Utah.  “We don’t want students to choose Noorda-COM because it’s local, because it’s convenient, or because it’s in Utah County, said Noorda-COM founding President Dr. Richard Nielsen.  “We anticipate they’re going to want to make us their first choice because it will be the best medical school option available.”

The next step will be reviewing these applications and inviting prospective students to complete a secondary application and then participate in virtual interviews.  “We want to identify a group of students who are creative and innovative and who will help address the healthcare shortages we are experiencing in the state,” said Dr. John Dougherty, Founding Dean.

 

October 1, 2020
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Dean’s Message – October 2020

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Dean’s Message 

Dr. John Dougherty Founding Dean of Noorda COM

Welcome to the latest issue of the Noorda-COM Navigator.  There is so much happening within the Noorda-COM family and we are pleased to share this update with you.  The top priority for all of us has been planning for Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) pre-accreditation site visit scheduled which is taking place this week.

The COCA site team is virtually meeting with a variety of individuals including board members, faculty, and campus leadership during their visit.  This is the next step toward Noorda-COM receiving pre-accreditation status, which will be on COCA’s agenda for its December 4th meeting.

I want to commend all the members of the Noorda-COM family who have worked so diligently on preparing for this site visit.  It is our hope that the accreditation team will see what we all know – that Noorda-COM is a very special place, which has the potential to revolutionize medical school education.

 

Dr. John Dougherty
Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer

October 1, 2020
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President’s Message – October 2020

By Campus NewsNo Comments

President’s Message

Dr. Richard Nielsen's headshot, Founding President and CEO of Noorda-COM

This fall has brought with it much excitement.  As you read this issue of the Noorda-COM Navigator, you will see we have much to celebrate.  We are actively recruiting our first class of students and are seeing great interest in joining the Noorda-COM family from prospective students and employees.  We also received substantial Public Infrastructure District (PID) funding to start infrastructure construction for campus expansion, and have established wonderful partnerships with local medical centers.

However, I also know that this past summer and fall have brought challenges and concerns.  There is no doubt that we are seeing the continued and recurring impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  It has resulted in campus closures and issues related to our construction timelines.

I want to reassure you that things are progressing, and we continue to move forward with our planning for the start of our academic program next August and for the expansion of the campus to the new facilities at the Medical Education and Research Campus.  These are indeed exciting times for Noorda-COM and we will continue to transparently keep you apprised of developments as they happen.

Onward!

Dr. Richard P. Nielsen
Founding President and CEO

October 1, 2020
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The Proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine Receives Approval to Recruit Students

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College to begin recruiting inaugural class.

PROVO, Utah, July 10, 2020 – Today the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) Board of Trustees announced it received approval to recruit students for its inaugural class in the Fall of 2021 from the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

The decision was made at COCA’s June meeting, when it accepted the proposed Noorda-COM’s application to advance to the next step of the accreditation process for the medical school currently under development in Provo. The application should post on the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service website within a few weeks.

The designation comes after a two-year application process which included two comprehensive self-studies and stringent reviews by the COCA Commissioners.

Dr. John Dougherty, founding dean and chief academic officer for the proposed Noorda-COM said, “The process has been challenging and in no small part successful due to the ongoing collaboration of the proposed Noorda-COM’s faculty, staff, trustees and clinical partners.”

Dougherty said to achieve the right to recruit students, all eleven accreditation standards had to be met which included mission, leadership, finance, facilities, curriculum, faculty, research, learning environment, student services, Graduate Medical Education (GME) and learning assessment.

The proposed Noorda-COM’s founding president and CEO, Dr. Richard Nielsen, said, “We are extremely honored to receive the right to recruit students. This speaks volumes about our institution and the high-quality program we are developing in Provo. The proposed Noorda-COM’s next anticipated step in the accreditation process will be to advance to Pre-Accreditation later this year.”

As a result of receiving this new accreditation status, the proposed Noorda-COM will begin active recruitment of students for its inaugural class for the Fall of 2021. Interested students can get more information at the proposed Noorda-COM admissions website, and apply here.

Monitoring of the proposed Noorda-COM’s development will occur regularly, and COCA will conduct a site visit within the next six months.

The proposed Noorda-COM received Candidate Status in June of 2019 as part of the accreditation process. Rights to recruit is the current step. COCA will continue its regular process to monitor the development and progress of the proposed Noorda-COM and will conduct a site visit at the proposed Noorda-COM campus within the next four to six months.

About the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is an independent and freestanding institution overseen by a governing Board of Trustees located in Provo, Utah. Its Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program is designed to train outstanding future physicians. Its mission is to empower students with essential personal and professional skills to be competent, confident, and compassionate osteopathic physicians. The college has achieved Candidate with Rights to Recruit Status by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

Contact:
A. Cory Maloy
Maloy PR
801-877-3112
cory@maloypr.com

July 10, 2020
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