Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Miko Rose, the founding dean of IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine, was an invited presenter for the 2024 Osteopathic Medical Education Conference, the world’s largest gathering of osteopathic physicians.
The Conference was held in conjunction with the American College of Neuropsychiatrists/American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists.
Miko Rose, founding dean of IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine, receives her Fellows recognition from Jed Magen, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
Events during the conference included recognition of Rose’s election as a fellow of the American College of Neuropsychiatrists by the Fellows of the American College of Neuropsychiatrists/American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists.
Rose was an invited presenter for two programs during the conference.
“In the Zone: An Osteopathic Approach to Peak Performance,” presented to physicians and other attendees, was cosponsored by three academies: Sports Medicine, Family Medicine, and Psychiatry-Neurology. She also presented a program to the medical students in attendance on mindset and mindfulness techniques to help enhance resilience.
Candidates for ACN fellowship are nominated by two current fellows and are reviewed by the ACN Board of Governors. Fellows must be board-certified and serve the American College of Neurologists and Psychiatrists in some capacity. Less than 150 physicians nationwide hold the “Fellows” designation.
The mission of the organization is to promote the art and science of osteopathic medicine in the fields of neurology and psychiatry; to maintain and further evaluate the highest standards of proficiency and training among osteopathic neurologists and psychiatrists; to stimulate original research and investigation in neurology and psychiatry; and to collect and disseminate the results of such work for the benefit of the members of the college, the public, the profession at large, and the ultimate benefit of all humanity.
Miko Rose, founding dean of IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine, was an invited presenter for the ACONP national conference.
IUP’s Council of Trustees endorsed the exploration of a possible development of a college of osteopathic medicine at IUP in December 2022. Following a national search, Rose was selected as founding dean in November 2023.
Rose, a board-certified physician in psychiatry and neurology, is nationally known for wellness programming. She developed the first formal classes in medical schools in the nation on happiness and joy while a professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and College of Osteopathic Medicine schools; these classes were the origin for her development of the Joy Initiative there.
She expanded the Joy Initiative curriculum to provide training for peak performance for team coaches, trainers, and student athletes. This training has become formal coursework for credit, embedded into the core curriculum for medical students’ wellness and well-being requirements there.
There are only three colleges of osteopathic medicine in Pennsylvania, all at private universities; when established, IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine would be the fourth college of osteopathic medicine in the commonwealth and the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in Pennsylvania.
IUP chose to explore a proposed college of osteopathic medicine based on several factors, including the critical need for rural health care; there are not enough trained physicians to provide care to Pennsylvania’s citizens: the ratio of patients to available primary care physicians is 1,367 to 1, according to the United Health Foundation.
National studies show that osteopathic medicine graduates are more likely to pursue primary care in rural and underserved areas—57 percent of all doctors of osteopathic medicine practice as general practitioners, and more than 20 percent of DO graduates practice in rural areas. Demand is high for osteopathic medicine training: in 2021, 22,708 applicants competed for 8,280 seats at schools of osteopathic medicine.
The hiring of a founding dean for IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine is one of the first steps to establishing the college. With this selection complete, IUP has formally initiated steps towards accreditation from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, a three- to five-year process that includes submission of self-studies and a feasibility study, along with site visits.
In October, IUP celebrated the recent hiring of two founding associate deans: Ryan Smith, associate dean of clinical affairs; and Luke H. Mortensen, associate dean of preclinical affairs. IUP has clinical training agreements in place with Punxsutawney Area Hospital and Indiana Regional Medical Center.