IUP Founding Dean of Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine to be Guest on KDKA “The Big K Morning Show”

Miko Rose, the founding dean of Indiana University of Pennsylvania's proposed college of osteopathic medicine, will join KDKA Newsradio host Larry Richert and Rich Fitzgerald on The Big K Morning Show on Wednesday, November 27, at 7:20 a.m.

Fitzgerald, executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, joins Richert on the podcast on Wednesdays to discuss regional news and speak with guests about their work around southwestern Pennsylvania.

IUP's Council of Trustees endorsed the exploration of a possible development of a college of osteopathic medicine at IUP in December 2022. IUP has formally initiated steps towards accreditation of its proposed college of osteopathic medicine from the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, a three- to five-year process that includes submission of self-studies and a feasibility study, along with site visits.

Rose was hired as the founding dean of the proposed college of osteopathic medicine in November 2023; the hiring of a founding dean is one of the first steps to establishing the college.

Rose, named one of Pennsylvania's Fifty Over 50 by City & State Pennsylvania, is one of fewer than 150 physicians elected as a fellow of the American College of Neuropsychiatrists by the Fellows of the American College of Neuropsychiatrists/American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists.

IUP chose to explore a proposed college of osteopathic medicine based on several factors, including the critical need for rural health care: there are not enough trained physicians to provide care to Pennsylvania's citizens: the ratio of patients to available primary care physicians is 1,367 to 1, according to the United Health Foundation,

There are only three colleges of osteopathic medicine in Pennsylvania, all at private universities; IUP's proposed college of osteopathic medicine would be the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university.

National studies show that graduates from programs of osteopathic medicine are more likely to pursue primary care in rural and underserved areas-57 percent of all doctors of osteopathic medicine practice as general practitioners, and more than 20 percent of DO graduates practice in rural areas. Demand is high for osteopathic medicine training: in 2021, 22,708 applicants competed for 8,280 seats at schools of osteopathic medicine.