A new agreement between Ohio Wesleyan University and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine enables qualified OWU students to gain provisional early acceptance into LECOM’s medical school.

“The Early Acceptance Program provides qualified students with a reserved seat at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine as early as the summer before they start classes at Ohio Wesleyan,” said Dale J. Brugh, Ph.D., OWU’s associate dean for innovation. “Early acceptance can help students avoid some of the stress and cost of applying to medical school. In addition, exceptionally well-qualified students could begin medical school before completing their OWU bachelor’s degrees.”

LECOM is the largest osteopathic medical school in the United States. The College’s main campus is in Erie, Pennsylvania, and it has branches in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Bradenton, Florida. LECOM confers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.

According to the American Association of Osteopathic Colleges of Medicine, doctors who have D.O. degrees – like those with M.D. degrees – “can choose any specialty, prescribe drugs, perform surgeries, and practice medicine anywhere in the United States.”

Osteopathic medicine, the association states, “offers the added benefit of hands-on diagnosis and treatment” and “emphasizes helping each person achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease prevention.”

LECOM’s Early Acceptance Program includes two tracks: an accelerated 3+4 option and a more traditional 4+4 option. Students select a track when they apply to the program and may switch once while enrolled at Ohio Wesleyan. The program will accept up to five OWU students each academic year.