天美影视

Published August 26, 2026

CAPTION: (L-R) VCOM-天美影视 Dean Ray Morrison, DO, DFACOS; VCOM President Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP; 天美影视 President Carrie L. Castille, PhD

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MONROE, La. - The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)-天美影视 and the University of 天美影视 Monroe (天美影视) have strengthened their longstanding partnership through a new Preferred Admission Track agreement. The agreement establishes a structured pathway that provides early support for highly qualified 天美影视 students who demonstrate academic excellence and a desire to make a meaningful impact in their communities, offering a clear path to medical school at VCOM-天美影视.

By helping talented students pursue medical education close to home, the agreement strengthens 天美影视鈥檚 future healthcare workforce and reinforces both institutions鈥� shared commitment to improving health outcomes across the state.

Under the agreement, qualified 天美影视 students may apply for the Preferred Admission Track after completing their sophomore year. Students accepted into the program must demonstrate strong academic achievement, maintain rigorous academic standards throughout their undergraduate studies, and engage in community service and healthcare-related experiences. To be eligible, students must meet all technical and general admission requirements, complete a set of required prerequisite courses, and maintain an overall science and cumulative GPA of 3.7. In addition, the new agreement allows 天美影视 pre-med students who have achieved a 3.7 GPA in the appropriate courses at 天美影视 to waive VCOM鈥檚 MCAT requirement. Students with a GPA above 3.4 who are recommended by the school will have the opportunity to interview, though the MCAT requirement remains.聽

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, president of VCOM, shared, 鈥淭his pathway builds on a relationship that has existed since the VCOM-天美影视 campus was established in 2018. Located on 天美影视鈥檚 campus in Monroe, the two institutions have developed a collaborative partnership that supports educational innovation to improve healthcare throughout the region.鈥� 聽

As 天美影视鈥檚 only public university with schools of pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and kinesiology, as well as other health sciences programs, 天美影视 offers a rich environment for interdisciplinary learning. Likewise, as 天美影视鈥檚 first and only osteopathic medical college, VCOM-天美影视 provides a distinctive pathway to physician education while advancing its mission to improve healthcare access in rural and medically underserved communities. Students from both institutions regularly participate in collaborative interprofessional education experiences that bring together students from multiple disciplines to strengthen communication, teamwork, and patient-centered skills. The Colleges also share research opportunities and other educational collaborations that enhance student learning and professional development.

Kaleb Underwood, VCOM-天美影视 Class of 2029, a 天美影视 alumnus from West Monroe, completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology with dual minors in chemistry and psychology. He shared, 鈥淲ith VCOM on 天美影视鈥檚 campus, I saw the opportunity to stay a little closer to home and maintain my sense of family, not only with my personal family but also with my 天美影视 family, with all the people I have grown up and matured with over the past four years. Keeping those bonds meant more to me than I thought it would.鈥� For 天美影视 students, the partnership represents natural progression, building on years of collaboration between 天美影视 and VCOM-天美影视.

"We have already enjoyed a strong partnership with VCOM-天美影视, and this agreement only makes it stronger," said 天美影视 president Carrie L. Castille, PhD. "This new agreement provides a clear path for 天美影视 students to follow their dreams of becoming doctors and get a world-class education without leaving Monroe. We are proud that this agreement is the next step in building our healthcare workforce and helping provide 天美影视's citizens with the care they need."聽

The initiative also supports VCOM-天美影视鈥檚 mission to prepare physicians for rural and medically underserved communities. 天美影视 continues to face significant healthcare workforce challenges, particularly in primary care and underserved areas, underscoring the need to develop and retain future physicians committed to serving local communities.

鈥淭his agreement will strengthen the mission focus of VCOM to supply the needs of rural 天美影视 and beyond. The pathway will continue to address 天美影视鈥檚 need for a strong physician workforce,鈥� said Ray Morrison, DO, DFACOS, dean for the VCOM-天美影视 campus.

The Preferred Admission Track Agreement will take effect for eligible 天美影视 students during the 2026-2027 academic year. By establishing a clear pathway from undergraduate education to medical school, VCOM and 天美影视 hope to encourage more 天美影视 students to pursue careers in medicine and ultimately serve the healthcare needs of the state and region.