Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine is a private, for-profitosteopathic medical school. Founded in 2016, ICOM is located at the Meridian campus of Idaho State University. At ICOM, students can earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. ICOM's mission is to train osteopathic physicians prepared for caring for persons in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and beyond. ICOM matriculated its second class of students in August 2019. This Class of 2023 is composed of graduates from 104 U.S. colleges and universities. These students originate from 38 states with approximately one-third coming from Idaho and the ICOM target 5-state region including Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
History
Before ICOM was established, Idaho was the most populous state without a medical school of its own. ICOM was formed to help address the current and growing shortage of physicians in its five-state region outlined in its mission, with an emphasis on rural, underserved areas. Although Idaho is among the most rapidly growing areas of the country, the state ranks 49th in physicians per capita. In December 2017 COCA granted ICOM pre-accreditation status and authorized the recruitment of 162 students.
Campus
Located in Meridian, Idaho, the three-story, 94,000-square-foot facility cost $34 million, and took Engineered Structures, Inc. just thirteen months to build. Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, a New Mexico-based architecture firm, did the design. ICOM's campus includes more than 12,000 feet of classroom space, including: two lecture halls, each with 250 seats; a clinical simulation center; a 3,5000-square-foot medical library; and a 3,479-square-foot osteopathic manipulative medicine Lab. Additionally, 12 Objective Structured Clinical Examination rooms are located on the second floor. ICOM has a 40-year agreement with Idaho State University-Meridian for use of its Treasure ValleyAnatomy and Physiology Laboratory. There, ICOM's first-year medical students perform whole-body dissections on donated bodies, also known as cadavers.
Academics
As a free-standing medical school, ICOM only offers graduate-level training. ICOM awards the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. This is a four-year degree with years 1 and 2 consisting of on-campus didactic lectures, small group assignments laboratory and clinical experiences. Years 3 and 4 are completed at selected clinical sites. In November 2019, ICOM announced that it had been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2019-2022 for its unique implementation of Apple technology in creating a culture of engagement amongst the students, faculty and staff at Idaho's first medical school. Apple Distinguished Schools are centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence that use Apple technology to inspire creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. They showcase innovative uses of technology in learning, teaching, and the school environment and have documented results of academic accomplishment.
Student Life
Students participate in several organizations and interest committees on campus. There are more than 30 student organizations represented on campus, ranging from national, professional and general interest.
