The first class of 100 future physicians will debut on Florida Tech's campus in July, learning in laboratories and classrooms in the L3 Harris Commons building at the Space Coast's first osteopathic medical school.
“Students will learn the principles and practices of osteopathic medicine and a practical understanding of how to palpate the musculoskeletal system and how it is integrated into all other organ systems in the body via the central nervous system. learn skills,” said Dr. Doris Newman. Student Thomas Baez's neck and back are examined on the treatment table.
Newman is the new Florida campus president of Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is partnering with Florida Tech to create a four-year osteopathic medical school. The first batch of students is scheduled to graduate in May 2028.
BCOM is a private medical school operated in partnership with New Mexico State University. Both institutions are separately owned and managed. BCOM's first class of students graduated in Las Cruces in 2020, and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered the keynote address.
The university has graduated 564 doctors so far.
Currently, BCOM leases the second and third floors of the L3 Harris Commons building and provides Florida Tech with coverage for student access to the library, food and beverage services, health and fitness facilities, and housing. Newman likened the expansion of the Sunshine State campus to “increasing class sizes even though we're two time zones apart.”
Burrell University:Florida Institute of Technology announces Space Coast's first medical school in Melbourne
“We believe this partnership with Burrell is a great opportunity not only for Florida Tech, but also for the community and region as a whole,” said Florida Tech President John Nicklow. It will be opened,” he said.
“This is the first medical school in Brevard County, so this is going to be a really valuable asset and it's extremely important. One of the statistics that I saw in the early partnership agreements is that by 2035, the state of Florida will have approximately “There was a shortage of 18,000 doctors,” Nicklow said. He said.
“So having this world-class medical school on our campus really helps support the needs of our community,” he said.
On Wednesday, officials provided a behind-the-scenes tour of the newly renovated BCOM facility at Florida Tech. The building includes two auditoriums, an anatomy lab and prep room, an osteopathic and manipulative medicine lab, five student study areas, two conference rooms, 10 patient rooms, student locker rooms, and offices for faculty and staff.
Florida Tech officials invited BCOM to establish a Sunshine State campus in Melbourne in 2018. A letter of intent was created and due diligence began.
The New Mexico-based university has sent a small number of students, including Baez, to the Space Coast in recent years for clinical rotations at Rockledge Regional Medical Center and Melbourne Regional Medical Center. Professor Newman said the university was developing a similar partnership with Health First, including future training programmes.
Palm Bay resident Daniel Welsh is one of the first 100 osteopathic medical students to enroll at the Melbourne campus. He is scheduled to graduate from Florida Institute of Technology in May with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry.
“It really feels like the stars aligned for this school to open here. I live here, so financially, emotionally, in every aspect of my life. It's very convenient, so the barrel was my first choice,'' Wales said.
rick neil He's a space reporter for FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his story, go to click here) Contact Neil:Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
Support local journalism. Unlock unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com. Click here to subscribe now.
