Touro University Nevada’s College of Osteopathic Medicine Awarded with Prestigious 10-Year Accreditation with ‘Exceptional Outcome’
Touro University Nevada’s College of Osteopathic Medicine was awarded with a prestigious 10-year accreditation with ‘exceptional outcome’, the highest accreditation possible given by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
COCA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the only accreditor of colleges of osteopathic medicine nationwide. COCA accreditation signifies that an osteopathic medical school has met or exceeded the Commission’s standards for educational and academic quality.
“This is the best outcome we could hope to achieve,” said Wolfgang Gilliar, D.O., Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The exceptional outcome is a testament to the prowess and commitment of the Nevada medical school that was founded in 2004 to help address the physician shortage in the Southern Nevada region and beyond. The medical school most recently graduated 172 physicians, with 55 doctors staying in Nevada to start their residency training here in the coming months.
Touro University Nevada has excelled in both residency/match placement and national board scores under Dean Gilliar’s leadership. Touro’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2022 recently achieved a 99.4% residency placement and within the past four years, twice achieved a match/placement rate of 100%.
Approximately 25% of all osteopathic medical schools across the U.S. are designated with a 10-year accreditation.
To celebrate the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s phenomenal accreditation accomplishment, faculty, staff, and students from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and across the Touro Nevada campus came together for a special toast inside the bullpen.
Dean Gilliar credited the dedication and motivation of the medical school’s students, staff, faculty, and alumni/ae who all came together in a true team effort during the nearly two-year accreditation process.
Touro University California’s College of Osteopathic Medicine was also awarded with the 10-year accreditation outcome.
“This is tremendously exciting news for both Nevada and California,” said Shelley Berkley, CEO & Senior Provost, Touro University Western Division. “The dedicated effort of our faculty and staff and the compassion and drive of our students and alumni/ae are directly reflected in this recognition. I congratulate Dean Gilliar (Nevada) and Dean Hendriksz (California) for their leadership, and the faculty and staff on both campuses for their extraordinary efforts in creating truly outstanding medical education programs.”
Dr. Andrew Priest, Touro University Nevada’s Provost and Chief Academic Officer, credited Dean Gilliar for his continuous commitment to making the College of Osteopathic Medicine one of the finest medical schools in the country.
“Being awarded 10 years of accreditation will allow the medical school to advance its strategy of evidence-based medicine and research integration into best osteopathic medical practice through digital health such as Point of Care Ultrasound, inter-professional education, and practical skills learning through simulation,” he said. “The future is here.”
“The goal of education is to be innovative and to enhance the learning landscape for not only better and safer outcomes for our patients and society but also to foster joy and satisfaction in the work we all do as professionals. We have been given an incredible opportunity to do just that, and for this we are extremely grateful,” Dean Gilliar concluded.
About Touro's College of Osteopathic Medicine