Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine

Dean: Dr. Brian A. Kessler, DO, FACOFP, Dean and Chief Academic Officer

About the School

In 2010, the University launched a feasibility study into the development of a School of Osteopathic Medicine. Building off the previous successes of the School of Law and programs in the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, this academic endeavor was a daunting, but achievable, challenge.

In January 2011, Dr. John Kauffman was installed as founding dean of the Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM). Since July 2019, Dr. James Powers has served as the Interim Dean and Chief Academic Officer of CUSOM.As of May 1, 2021, Dr. Brian Kessler is the new and current Dean and Chief Academic Officer of CUSOM.

The first class matriculated in 2013 and graduated May 2017. The inaugural class, and each class since, performed very well on national licensing exams, such as COMLEX-USA and the USMLE, in both first-time pass rates and discipline scores.  Additionally, 100% of CUSOM graduates have placed into high quality regional and national programs.

CUSOM has added two additional master’s degree programs since its inception. In 2015, the Master of Science in Biomedical Science (MSBS) program was added, followed by the Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) program in 2019.

At its April 6-8, 2017 meeting, the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation voted to award CUSOM full accreditation status.  Accreditation status is the highest level of accreditation awarded, and confers all rights and privileges of accreditation.

Mission

The mission of the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) is to educate and prepare community-based osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment to care for the rural and underserved populations in North Carolina, the Southeastern United States and the nation.

CUSOM is informed and guided by the following eight goals for the purpose of educating osteopathic physicians who are well trained, socially minded clinicians who practice evidence based medicine:

1. Recruit and graduate osteopathic medical students who are committed to serving the rural and underserved areas in North Carolina, Southeastern United States, and the nation
   • Recruit a diverse student body who desire to serve a rural and underserved population;
   • Recruit students from North Carolina, Southeastern United States, and the nation;
2. Educate osteopathic medical students in the art and science of osteopathic medicine using the most current research in clinical and basic science
3. Provide osteopathic medical education that is holistic (mind, body, spirit) in its approach, evidence based, community-focused, and patient centered
4. Contribute to the fund of osteopathic medical knowledge through educational, scientific and clinical research and other scholarly activity
5. Develop outreach sites in rural and underserved North Carolina to provide educational services and healthcare to the region
6. Develop a sustainable international medical missions program to train clinicians for underserved areas of North Carolina, the United States and the developing world
7. Collaborate with hospitals and other partners to provide healthcare and other educational services to the region
8. Develop postgraduate training programs in collaboration with other institutions to provide medical students with residency programs upon graduation.