By JOE JAROSZ
Northeast News
March 5, 2014

The Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience have announced the addition of a military track to the College of Osteopathic Medicine curriculum to begin this fall.

The addition makes KCUMB only the second school, the first being the Rocky Vista University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colo., in the United States to offer the specialized program. Through the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, the Health Professions Scholarship Program pays for medical education for its students enrolled in the program in exchange for service as a commissioned medical department officer upon completion of a medical degree.

Lisa Cambridge, director of public relations for KCUMB, said the purpose of the military track is to provide future military physicians with an added layer to their medical training. The students enrolled in the program will receive 20-25 additional contact hours or training that focuses on battlefield injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, topical diseases and other health related issues that would arise from military or public health crisis situations.

“The track incorporates lectures by high-ranking military physicians and hands-on didactic experiences that include specially designed human patient simulators that depict battlefield injuries,” Cambridge said.

Cambridge added that there is no limit to the number of students that can participate in the track.

“Our track is available to osteopathic medical students who attend KCUMB on scholarships from the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program,” Cambridge said. Currently, the program has 51 participants.

Bruce Dubin, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, said the addition of the military track fills multiple needs for the university and students enrolled in the program.

“Establishing this track helps KCUMB fulfill our mission to care for the well being of the diverse communities we serve, one of which is our men and women in service,” Dubin said. “Additionally, it addresses the need of our military students to better understand the situations they are very likely to face during their career.”