Nearly 70 percent of LECOM osteopathic medical students to move into primary care and traditional rotating internships

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine students in Erie, Pa., and Bradenton, Fla., recently learned the results of the 2010 Osteopathic Residency Match, and 68 percent of LECOM medical students successfully matched into primary care residency and internship positions, as well as traditional rotating internships. Nationally, approximately 78 percent of osteopathic medical students and graduates participated in the Osteopathic Match and successfully matched into osteopathic residency or internship positions, according to the American Osteopathic Association.

Osteopathic medical students and recent medical school graduates nationwide participate in interviews with residency program directors and administrators to make determinations about the specialties they would like to pursue after completing medical school training. As part of this interview process, the Osteopathic Match provides a means by which these students and graduates can rank-order a list of programs they would like to enter, while residency programs do the same with their preferred rank-order list of applicants. The National Matching Service, Inc., coordinates the two lists and develops the match list of osteopathic medical students and recent graduates to internship and residency programs.

Those entering traditional rotating internships are graduates considering several medical specialties or those in need of a broad-based general rotating internship as an entry requirement for another program. This post-graduate training program provides more exposure to primary care through internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics, along with general surgery and emergency medicine.

In the case of LECOM’s students in Erie and Bradenton, a considerable majority of the matches were in the primary care medicine specialties, such as internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. LECOM’s Erie campus saw nearly 75 percent of its match-participating students enter into primary care and traditional rotating residencies, while LECOM Bradenton placed 65 percent of its match-list students into those residency programs.

LECOM continues to be a national leader in primary care education with an eye on meeting the challenges of health care in the 21st century, and the large percentage of students moving into primary care and traditional rotating residencies further underscores the important role the College has in improving the scope of health care well into the future. A study by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation made recommendations challenging medical colleges to improve the quality and reduce the cost of medical education. The College, through its innovative program offerings, low-cost tuition rates and a commitment to professionalism and patient-centered care, has surpassed many of those recommendations.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and LECOM School of Pharmacy offer innovative and affordable education in osteopathic medicine and pharmacy. From campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Bradenton, Florida, LECOM provides student-centered pathways to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. Prepare yourself for medicine as your life’s profession.