50 Years of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

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1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s

A Brief History


1823

Trustees explore establishing a medical school.

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1975

House Bill 229 becomes law, calling for the creation of a College of Osteopathic Medicine at Ohio University.

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1976

The College of Osteopathic Medicine welcomes its inaugural class of 24 students.

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1977

Frank W. Myers, D.O., is named the first permanent dean of the medical school.

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1980

Ohio University awards its first doctorates of osteopathic medicine to 21 new physicians.

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1993

Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., the first Black woman to lead a U.S. medical school becomes dean.

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1994

Heritage Community Clinic is created, delivering free vaccines across southeast Ohio.

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1998

The AMSA Foundation recognizes OU-COM as the top producer of family physicians in the nation.

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2001

John "Jack" Adolph Brose, D.O., become dean of OU-COM.

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2011

The college receives a landmark $105 million gift from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations.

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2012

Kenneth H. Johnson, D.O., is named the first executive dean of the Heritage College.

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2014

In partnership with OhioHealth, the Dublin campus welcomes its first class of 50 students.

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2015

In partnership with Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland campus welcomes its first class of 51 students.

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2021

A new state-of-the-art, 120,000 square foot medical education facility opens in Athens.

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2025

The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation announces $70 million gift to HCOM.

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1970s

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1980s

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1990s

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2000s

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2010s

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2020s

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Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine


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