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.

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 19^th, 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.

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.

Dean’s Message 

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 4^th 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

President’s Message

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

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

Key milestone in accreditation process.

PROVO, Utah, Jun. 24, 2019 – Following a year of working on its self-study, the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) received notification from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of approval to advance to Candidate Status from Applicant Status.

The self-study was submitted by Noorda-COM to COCA whose Executive Committee accepted, reviewed and approved it on June 6^th.

“This is three-months ahead of our original schedule,” said Dr. John J. Dougherty, founding dean and chief academic officer for the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. “We are appreciative of the [COCA] commissioners’ careful consideration and acknowledgement. COCA found the self-study to be 100 percent in compliance with all administrative, academic and financial standards.”

The status change is one essential step in receiving full accreditation from COCA. The proposed Noorda-COM plans to submit self-study II later in the upcoming year, which if approved by COCA, will change the status to Pre-Accreditation. At that point, the college may begin student recruitment.

The U.S. Department of Education and Utah state regulators were also informed by COCA of the progress of the proposed Noorda-COM’s status.

The self-study outlines in detail the proposed Noorda-COM’s progress in preparing its leadership team, financial support, potential for integration in local and regional hospitals and clinics, and in other key areas.

The proposed Noorda-COM established a strong leadership team with the appointment of Dougherty as founding dean and chief academic officer, the appointment of Dr. Richard P. Nielsen as founding president and CEO and who is also founding president and CEO of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Francis Gibson, chairman of the Board of Trustees for the proposed Noorda-COM, and a governing Board of Trustees comprised of distinguished health and business professionals. The proposed Noorda-COM also has the financial backing of major investors and has developed strong relationships with the top hospitals, clinics and healthcare systems in the intermountain western region.

“We are very fortunate,” said Nielsen. “We have fantastic relationships in the community, a strong and active Board, generous investors, and some of the top healthcare leaders in the country helping us bring this medical school to our community. We could not do it without them.”

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. It has achieved Candidate Status by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

Founded and located in Provo, Utah in June 1998, Wasatch Educational manages 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

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 49^th in the nation for active patient care, primary care physicians per 100,000 population and 44^th in the nation for active physicians per 100,000. Utah is ranked 44^th 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