‘I feel over the moon’: ICOM celebrates inaugural graduation

BOISE, Idaho — The inaugural class for the Idaho Faculty of Osteopathic Drugs (ICOM) made historical past Friday by changing into the primary osteopathic physicians produced within the Gem State. 

After a protracted 4 years at Idaho’s solely school of medication, the 145 graduates stated they really feel, “over the moon” to lastly be given the title of physician and proceed their work within the medical area.

“All people’s coming to Idaho, together with these great pupil docs and as they need to. It is a high-quality school, employees and curriculum,” ICOM President, Tracy Farnsworth stated. “We could not be extra happy with how these younger college students are doing.”

100% of the category of 2022 have a job in residency packages in 39 completely different states. They’re going to be in 16 completely different specialties, with 55% staying in major care specialties. 

In keeping with ICOM Dean and Chief Educational Officer, Thomas Mohr, DO, Idaho presently ranks forty ninth in relation to residency positions per capita. Eight graduates are staying within the Gem State to do their residency program, however Mohr stated with the ICOM’s momentum, he is eager for extra alternatives to maintain docs in Idaho.

“To ensure that us to maintain extra of our graduates and different graduates within the state, we actually do must broaden the alternatives for residency coaching or graduate medical schooling within the state right here of Idaho,” Mohr stated. “Now we have the graduates now we want the residency packages to maintain them right here.”

Whereas many graduates plan to go away Idaho for his or her residencies, some, like ICOM’s class of 2022 President Zaid Ahmed, stated they’ve plans to come back again. 

“I got here right here with my spouse, who’s additionally a graduating physician now, and we completely beloved it right here. We completely see ourselves settling again right here sooner or later,” Ahmed stated. 

He added he fell in love with Idaho’s nature and neighborhood. He additionally is aware of how a lot of a necessity there’s for docs across the state. Ahmed shall be heading to southern New Jersey to do an emergency drugs residency. 

Ahmed is initially from New York and stated it was a bit of little bit of a danger to maneuver throughout the nation to enroll in a model new school of medication, however he feels it was value it.

“I’ve by no means been part of one other establishment and a workforce that was so collaborative and so supportive,” Ahmed stated.

Whereas Ahmed and his classmates have set the bar for future ICOM courses, he hopes to see the faculty proceed to develop and attain new individuals.

“I’ll give again sooner or later to ICOM,” Ahmed stated. “I imply, they gave me a possibility and now I’ll be a health care provider, you recognize? Cannot ask for extra.”

With this graduating class, ICOM is now a completely accredited medical college. They’ve seven years of accreditation approval from the Fee on Osteopathic Faculty Accreditation, in addition to approval from the Idaho State Board of Training to confer the levels.

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