Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine: Expanding Access to Healthcare for the Future

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) is a private, for-profit medical school with a mission to educate a diverse osteopathic physician and healthcare workforce committed to improving the quality of and access to healthcare in underserved communities. With the motto "Para la gente y el futuro!" (For the people and the future!), Burrell College blends evidence-based learning with real-world experience to prepare the next generation of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs).

A Multi-Campus Approach: New Mexico and Florida

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine offers the same accredited DO program, community-focused training, and mission-centered rotations across two campuses, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Melbourne, Florida.

Las Cruces, New Mexico Campus

The main campus is located on the New Mexico State University (NMSU) campus in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University was founded in 2013, at a cost of $85 million. The main campus consists of a newly constructed 80,000 square foot, three-story building located in the Arrowhead Research Park on the NMSU campus. Las Cruces is New Mexico’s second-largest city with plenty of outdoor activities for residents, including hiking in the Organ Mountains, bird watching in and around Dripping Springs, and river rafting on the Rio Grande. Nationally, Las Cruces has been recognized as a top place for work, recreation, tourism, retirement, and raising a family.

Melbourne, Florida Campus

In January 2023, Florida Tech and Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine entered into an affiliation agreement to establish a four-year osteopathic medical school on Florida Tech’s campus in Melbourne, Florida, and to offer an Osteopathic Medicine Pathway Program to Florida Tech students. Melbourne residents enjoy spending time outdoors, visiting beaches, snorkeling, fishing, and boating. Nearby attractions include the Kennedy Space Center, the Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park, and Florida Tech Botanical Gardens. Melbourne lies within 75 miles of Orlando and Walt Disney World.

History and Founding Principles

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine was envisioned by its Founding Dean George Mychaskiw, D.O., to address the shortage of physicians in the Southwestern United States and its border with Northern Mexico, as well as to diversify the physician workforce. Dr. Mychaskiw reached out to John Hummer, a New Mexico business and healthcare leader, for his assistance in pursuing this vision. Co-founders George Mychaskiw and John Hummer formed a partnership and met with NMSU in July 2013 and incorporated a new legal entity, The New Mexico College of Osteopathic Medicine, that would eventually be named the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Read also: Learn about BCOM

The two co-founders orchestrated a synergistic gathering of influential leaders in both the higher education and healthcare sectors to assist in making the vision a reality. NMSU Chancellor Garrey Carruthers supported their vision for the creation of a private/public affiliated osteopathic medical school in Las Cruces, New Mexico. John Hummer introduced the medical school to Dan Burrell, who then joined Mychaskiw and Hummer as a co-founder. Burrell provided the initial seed funding, thus the medical school’s namesake in honor of his family. Rice University, via the Rice Management Company, who oversees and manages their endowment, became the single largest shareholder.

Burrell was founded as a for-profit school in partnership with New Mexico State University. Burrell was granted applicant status in 2012 by the American Osteopathic Association and ultimately received provisional accreditation in July 2015. BCOM began its first courses in August 2016.

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Program

Don N. Burrell offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree program combines scientific rigor with human connection. Students complete two years of pre-clinical education, which includes anatomy, physical diagnosis, and board preparation, followed by immersive clinical rotations. The curriculum is designed to cultivate excellence in primary care through a strong foundation in cultural competency and patient-centered care, with focused instruction in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.

Years 1 and 2 of the DO program consist primarily of classroom-based learning, with students completing clinical clerkships during years 3 and 4 at one of the primary sites: Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Eastern New Mexico, El Paso, Texas, or Tucson, Arizona. As of 2021, clinical clerkship sites also include Four Corners, primarily in New Mexico, and Melbourne, Florida.

Osteopathic Medicine: A Holistic Approach

In the realm of healthcare, osteopathic medicine stands out for its holistic and patient-centered philosophy. Osteopathic medicine, or osteopathy, is a distinct branch of medicine that emphasizes a whole-person approach to healthcare. Osteopathic physicians (DOs) undergo rigorous training, which includes medical school followed by specialized osteopathic training.

Key principles of osteopathic medicine include:

The Body's Self-Healing Ability: Osteopathic medicine places great importance on the body's natural ability to heal itself.
The Interconnectedness of Body Systems: Osteopathic physicians consider the body as a unified system, where all parts are interrelated.
Structure and Function: The foundation of osteopathic medicine is the principle that the body's structure and function are intimately linked.
Preventative Care: Osteopathic physicians often emphasize preventive care and lifestyle modifications to maintain good health.
Reduced Reliance on Medications: Osteopathic treatment methods, including osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), can reduce the need for medications or surgery in some cases.
Whole-Person Focus: DOs take the time to listen to their patients and consider all aspects of their health.
Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Osteopathic physicians are open to incorporating complementary and integrative therapies alongside conventional treatments.
Diverse Specializations: Osteopathic physicians can specialize in various medical fields, including family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, and more.

Osteopathic medicine's focus on holistic, patient-centered care, and its emphasis on the body's innate ability to heal, make it a valuable and increasingly popular choice in the healthcare landscape. Whether you seek relief from a specific ailment or aim to maintain your overall health and wellness, an osteopathic physician may offer a unique perspective and a comprehensive approach to your healthcare needs.

Curriculum and Instruction

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine provides a four-year, evidence-based osteopathic medical education program that enables students to acquire the knowledge and competencies required to enter graduate medical education and the practice of osteopathic medicine. The applications-based curriculum integrates medical knowledge, clinical skills, and osteopathic principles and practice, while its instructional design utilizes active learning techniques through case discussions, team-based learning, laboratory and skills instruction, and interactive integrative sessions. Students will engage in synchronous and asynchronous delivery of didactic content and in-person delivery of hands-on laboratory experiences.

Course offerings guide the student’s development of a holistic approach to clinical practice by emphasizing knowledge acquisition, clinical problem-solving with a patient-centered and professional focus, and inter-professional collaboration. The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine’s clinical training curriculum is community-based and conducted in its affiliated hospitals and clinics under the supervision of a faculty in multiple medical specialties.

Both locations offer a variety of instructional spaces for both large and small groups, along with specialized laboratories such as OMM and Physical Diagnosis labs, Standardized Patient, and Simulation labs, Gross Anatomy labs, and access to Research labs. The College’s library offers students access to a comprehensive collection of core medical and osteopathic resources, including electronic databases, journals, books, and media titles. The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine utilizes the latest technologies and learning methods to ensure success in the classroom and future professional practice.

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Student Life and Activities

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine students have the opportunity to charter and join established student organizations. Of the over 60 student organizations, many are osteopathic in nature and focus on specific medical specialties, while other clubs focus on broader topics, such as community engagement, cultural groups, and students' shared interests. These clubs are very active, offer guest speaker sessions, service projects, and outreach, while helping students to learn important lessons in a non-academic setting. The Office of Student Affairs employs a mentorship model through its Advisory College Program designed to promote robust interaction between faculty and students. The College celebrates its nationally recognized faculty, students and clubs, and its collaborative campus climate.

Admissions Information

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine utilizes a single designation within AACOMAS. Applicants wishing to apply to either the Las Cruces (NM) or Melbourne (FL) campus should simply select Burrell College to receive their AACOMAS application. Applicants will be prompted to register their campus preference during the primary application process. The College uses a holistically driven, rolling admissions process whereby applicants are assessed in several different areas, including academic and non-academic characteristics. The College seeks to recruit and admit students who have shown a commitment to fulfilling the College’s mission.

Key Admissions Considerations:

Physician letter required?
Virtual Shadowing Options?
Accepts online coursework to fulfill prerequisite requirements?
Accepts prerequisite coursework pass/fail grades?
- Admissions prerequisite coursework may be affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prerequisite coursework with a grade of “Pass” will be considered if completed while COVID-19 mandates are/were in place.
Will your institution waive MCAT exam requirements?
Accepts online lab coursework?
International Students Accepted?
Supplemental Application Required?
- Applicants approved for an AACOMAS or AMCAS fee waiver will also be eligible to request a supplemental application fee waiver from the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Seat-accepted applicants that are able to demonstrate extenuating or unexpected personal circumstances may request a one-year deferment for consideration from the Dean of the College. The College reserves the right to offer a deferral and/or extend a deferral beyond one-year, at the discretion of the Dean.

The maximum time applicants have to accept an offer is according to the schedule below:

Those offered a seat prior to November 15 will have 30 days to confirm acceptance of the offer. Those who have confirmed acceptance will have until December 14 to pay the accompanying non-refundable seat deposit.
Those offered between November 15 and January 14 will have 30 days to accept the offer and submit the seat deposit.
Those offered between January 15 and April 30 will have 14 days to accept the offer and submit the seat deposit.
Those offered on or after May 1 may be asked for an immediate seat deposit.

A non-refundable deposit of $2000 is collected at the time of acceptance to secure a seat and is applied to tuition upon matriculation.

Accreditation

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

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