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Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine reports rapid growth, asks continued legislative support for residencies
Summary
Representatives and ICOM officials updated the committee on the medical school’s enrollment, accreditation and role in addressing Idaho’s physician shortage; ICOM said it will expand class sizes and continue partnering with Idaho State University and hospitals on graduate medical education.
Leaders from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) briefed the House Health and Welfare Committee on the school's growth, accreditation status and work to expand residency programs across Idaho.
ICOM officials said the private medical school — established in 2016 and closely partnered with Idaho State University’s health sciences campus in Meridian — has matriculated 1,134 student doctors since its opening, graduated 439 physicians (including 230 Idahoans) and placed more than 99 percent of graduates into ACGME‑accredited residency programs. The school reported above‑average incoming GPAs and MCAT scores and said its graduates have performed above the national average on board exams.
"By every meaningful measure, the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine has been a remarkable success," an ICOM representative told the committee, noting Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) granted full accreditation in 2022 and authorized an increase in class size from 150 toward 220 students per incoming class.
ICOM emphasized its public‑private partnership with Idaho State University, shared anatomy and allied‑health facilities, and interprofessional education with nursing and pharmacy students. The school also described the Mountain State Institute for Graduate Medical Education, a foundation program to help hospitals establish residency programs, and a private scholarship foundation funded in partnership with Blue Cross of Idaho.
Committee members asked how to expand preceptorships and clinical rotation opportunities in the state; ICOM urged physicians to volunteer as preceptors and said it offers stipends and dual‑faculty appointments with Idaho State University to support clinical teaching. The school described plans to continue growing residency slots in Idaho to retain more graduates in‑state and reduce the physician shortfall the school said requires roughly 1,400 additional physicians to reach the national average by physicians per capita.
ICOM officials thanked the legislature for prior support and said they would keep the committee informed about anticipated ownership changes and the school's plans to pursue institutional accreditation to offer complementary graduate degrees.
