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Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine tells Senate committee it is expanding class size and training physicians for Idaho
Summary
Dr. Tracy Farnsworth, president of the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, updated the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on accreditation, class-size increases and partnerships with Idaho State University; student doctors described why they chose to train in Idaho.
Dr. Tracy Farnsworth, president of the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee the college has grown since its first class and is expanding its capacity to address a statewide physician shortage.
"Idaho ... is dead last in the nation in physicians per capita," Dr. Farnsworth said, and argued the state will need roughly 1,400 additional physicians to reach the national average. She described the college's progress since its 2018 matriculation: the school has matriculated roughly 1,150 students over its history and graduated about 450; more than 99.5% of graduates are in residency programs. Four years ago the college received full programmatic accreditation and was authorized last year to increase its entering class size from 150 to 220 students per year.
Dr. Farnsworth emphasized the school's partnership with Idaho State University (ISU), saying the institutions share facilities on the ISU health sciences campus in Meridian and run interprofessional education programs. "We sit there on the ISU health sciences campus in Meridian," she said, and noted dual-degree opportunities and a new research collaboration that allows ISU faculty affiliate appointments with the college.
The committee also heard brief remarks from two student doctors. Student Doctor Annie Hoffman, a Boise State graduate, said her experience with osteopathic physicians on the Boise State athletics staff introduced her to osteopathic medicine and the Idaho community. Student Doctor Joshua Morcom, who said he was born in Weiser, recounted growing up around an osteopathic physician and working seasonal wildland firefighting; he said ICOM offered opportunities that made the school attractive to him.
Dr. Farnsworth said the college is privately owned and identified Rice University (Houston, Texas) as a primary owner; she said that owner is considering stepping away from ownership within the coming year. The presentation included a discussion about Idaho's aging population and preventive care; Dr. Farnsworth urged more focus on prevention and public health, noting the nation spends about 97% of health-care dollars on treatment versus prevention, a figure she described as "shocking."
Committee members toured the campus earlier and several senators encouraged inviting students to testify at Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) or to visit campus. No committee action was taken; the item was a presentation and update.
