Published:Thursday, February 6, 2014

Updated:Thursday, February 6, 2014 16:02

Bethany Gallimore, News Editor

Chancellor Tim Hudson, Paul Umbach and Jason Penry deliver the results of the Tripp Umbach firms study as to the feasibility of having an osteopathic medical school on campus. The proposed school would be the only licensed osteopathic medical school within Arkansas and could be welcoming students as early as 2016.

Development consulting firm Tripp Umbach has identified A-State as an ideal host institution for a proposed school of osteopathic medicine.

In a press conference Tuesday, Paul Umbach, president and founder of the Tripp Umbach firm, said A-State is in a very strong position to develop a medical program to serve the Delta and Northeast region of Arkansas.

The university already has a long history of doing medical, health science and nursing education, Umbach said. Its a school that has great relationships with its hospitals and physicians and it is in a community that is dynamic and growing and has a lot of support.

The osteopathic school would create a Bachelor of Science and graduate degree program for primary care physicians. Osteopathy places an emphasis on manipulative medicine techniques for reducing pain, restoring joint mobility and enhancing the bodys natural functions.

The Tripp Umbach feasibility study predicted a 25 percent decline in the number of osteopathic physicians practicing in Arkansas over the next five years, creating a wide open field for new osteopathic graduates.

We want students who are from this area to have access to medical education. Places in medical education are hard to find in Arkansas, Chancellor Tim Hudson said.

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Study: Campus, area 'ideal' for medical school