Kansas Health Science Center, a non-profit organization committed to developing innovative education programs in emerging areas of healthcare, is opening the Kansas Health Science Center - Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSC-KansasCOM). The new college is part of the TCS Education System, a Chicago-based non-profit system of colleges working collaboratively to advance institutional sustainability, student success, and community impact.
KHSC-KansasCOM, a collaborative partnership between TCS, KHSC, and Wichita’s Riverside Health Foundation will be the state’s first private, non-profit college of osteopathic medicine. The state-of-the-art college is expected to create $1 billion in economic impact in the region, where nearly one-third of the population is medically unserved. Faculty is made up of local physicians committed to lead a patient-centered approach to deliver an engaging, tech-infused learning experience. The first inaugural class will open in August, 2022 with the first inaugural graduation expected in 2026.
KHSC-KansasCOM has received pre-accreditation status from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and will be eligible for full accreditation following the inaugural graduation in 2026.
“This endorsement from COCA underscores our commitment to success across our System,” said Michael Horowitz, Ph.D., President and Founder of TCS Education System. “We are thrilled to bring our proven model of institutional excellence to KHSC - KansasCOM and look forward to working closely with the experienced administrators and faculty, as they educate the next generation of osteopathic physicians.”
The integrated curriculum includes training in advanced technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, a virtual anatomy lab, and early clinical experiences.
“In today’s healthcare landscape, innovation is desperately needed,” said Vadim Levitin, MD, Chair of the KHSC Board of Trustees. According to Levitin, the new college will take cutting-edge medical education from Wichita directly to the rural hospitals and clinics that could benefit from additional support through clinical rotations across the state.
In addition to the research cutting-edge facilities and Simulation Center on the KansasCOM campus, students will be able to use a range of high-tech devices in the classroom to enhance the learning experience through AI, VR, and AR.
Virtual and Augmented Reality (VAR)
VR and AR are consistently being adopted by colleges and universities, with the Metaverse being the next frontier. They provide students with immersive educational experiences which enhance student engagement and learning. VR and AR promote clinical application of biomedical science concepts, improve the clinical training experience, and provide the ability to conduct research in a safe virtual setting. When students develop skill sets in Virtual Reality they reduce the chances of making errors in the field.
AI-intelligence based education
The curriculum incorporates several modules designed in partnership with Medical Intelligence 10 (MI10) to introduce the latest medical technologies and practices that will support graduates in the future, including:
- Emerging technologies
- Health informatics
- Data science
- Artificial Intelligence
MI10 is a multidisciplinary advisory group for assessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities as well as formulating precise AI strategies and education for healthcare systems and hospitals.
In 2026, the first graduates of the KansasCOM will be part of key forces transforming the future of healthcare. According to federal projections and reported by Boston College, there will be four million healthcare jobs created by 2026 and healthcare will be the largest industry in the United States by then.