Location: Dothan, AL

Mission Statement

ACOM’s mission is to provide quality, learner-centered osteopathic education, research, and service, while promoting graduate medical education, with emphasis on patient-centered, team-based primary care to serve the medically underserved areas of Alabama, the Tri-State area, and the nation.

College Description

The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM), established to help address the physician workforce shortage in the state of Alabama and surrounding region, is Alabama’s first osteopathic medical school and the academic division of a regional facility, Southeast Health.

Campus setting:
Suburban. Dothan, Alabama; Located a few short miles from the state lines of Florida and Georgia, Dothan is a primary gateway to the Gulf’s majestic white sandy beaches, with excellent travel access through daily-scheduled non-stop jet service to Atlanta provided by Delta at the Dothan Regional Airport serving Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. Dothan is the center for a recreation, business, fine arts, industry and agriculture, health care, and retail trade area covering a 60-mile radius. As the sixth largest city in the state, Dothan is an economically healthy and growing community built around the landmarks of its past and has become a melting pot known for its friendly atmosphere of southern hospitality.

Year founded: 2010

Type: Private, non-profit

Accreditation:
The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). ACOM graduated its inaugural class in May 2017 and obtained full accreditation at that time.

Institutional affiliation:
ACOM is an academic division of Southeast Health, a regional health system, located in Dothan, AL.

Facilities:

The ACOM campus is designed to provide the full student experience with a 110,000-square-foot facility equipped with research and team-based learning centers, as well as a stand-alone simulation center. The college also features large anatomy and osteopathic principles and practice labs, a 16-room performance exam suite, a primarily electronic library, numerous study group rooms and a bistro with accompanying student lounge. The 200-acre campus includes a wooded walking trail, outdoor fitness area, large green spaces and a paved walking/biking path to local shops and restaurants. In addition to the main campus facility, ACOM has a rural primary care clinic a few miles from the campus, where students train with clinical faculty.

Student residence options:

ACOM is partnered with Corvias Campus Living to provide on-campus housing options for students. Summerfield Square, an apartment-style community, offers studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with private bathrooms, ample storage, and spacious floor plans, with amenities including a clubhouse with a fitness center, pool, and fire pit. In addition, Dothan provides an array of affordable housing opportunities for ACOM students within a short distance of the college. Private apartment and townhome complexes with amenities desirable to students and young professionals are conveniently located throughout the area and in neighboring communities. 

2021-2022 Enrollment

• Total medical school enrollment: 715
• Total male: 354
• Total female: 361
• First-year matriculants enrollment: 186
• First-year male matriculants: 93
• First-year female matriculants: 93
• Matriculants in-state: 22
• Matriculants out-of-state: 164
• Total enrollment affiliate institutions: 715

Pre-clinical curriculum is delivered through a hybrid, discipline- and system-based model. In the first semester, students are presented core concepts in a discipline-based manner, including basic foundational sciences and anatomy with cadaver dissection. Further pre-clinical instruction utilizes a system-based format, concentrating on clinical integration with a patient-centered focus. This is complemented by longitudinal instruction in osteopathic principles and practice (OPP), team-based learning activities, simulation and early standardized patient encounters. Students participate in additional patient encounters through the Southeast Health ACOM Ashford Clinic. Third- and fourth-year clinical curriculum is delivered at community-based hospitals and clinics utilizing an extensive network of physicians throughout Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. ACOM offers two fellowship programs, one focusing on anatomy and OPP, and the other centered on clinical simulation. 

DO/MBA
Concurrent Degree Program with Troy University Dothan

DO/MPH
Concurrent Degree Program with Samford University

DO/MSM
Concurrent Degree Program with Troy University Dothan to obtain a Master of Science in Management, specializing in Leadership

DO/MSADE
Concurrent Degree Program with Troy University for ACOM Student Fellows to obtain the Master of Science in Adult Education (Non-Certification Program). Only offered to students accepted into the ACOM Anatomy/OPP Fellowship or Simulation Fellowship

None Offered

Special Programs

Anatomy and Osteopathic Principles & Practice Fellowship Program
The Anatomy/OPP Fellowship Program through the Departments of Anatomy and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine is designed to expand the educational opportunities for selected students with guided learning experiences in the areas of medical education, research, Osteopathic Principles and Practices, and Anatomy while they assist in all phases of the departments’ operations. An important emphasis of the Fellowship program is to formally train the students in medical education and begin a journey to achieve master’s level experience and preparation to become excellent teachers and faculty.

Clinical Simulation Fellowship Program
The Clinical Simulation Fellowship is designed to expand the educational opportunities for selected students with guided learning experiences in the areas of medical education, research, and Clinical Simulation while they assist in all phases of the ACOM Division of Clinical Sciences’ operation. An important emphasis of the Fellows program is to formally train the student in medical education and begin a journey to achieve master’s level experience and preparation to become excellent teachers and faculty.

Admissions Process

Admission to ACOM is competitive and selective. Any undergraduate major is acceptable, as long as prerequisites are passed and taken for credit at an accredited college or university. Completed applications are reviewed by the admissions staff to evaluate a candidate’s academic ability, knowledge of and commitment to the tenets of osteopathic medicine, experience in health care and human services, community service, professionalism, communication skills, and personal integrity.

The Admissions team reviews all verified applications and students who meet our admissions criteria will be asked to submit a supplemental application with supporting materials. An application is considered complete once all of the required documents have been received. Completed applications are reviewed using standards set by the Admissions Committee.

The review process usually takes a few weeks. The Director of Admissions will send invitations to students who qualify for an on-campus or Zoom interview based on the standards. ACOM does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or creed, national or ethnic origin, or disability in its programs, activities, hiring, or the admission of students.

Application Information

2020 – 2021 Cycle

• Primary application service: AACOMAS
• Earliest application submission date: Opening Date of AACOMAS (5/4/2021)
• Primary application deadline: 3/01/2023
• Supplemental application deadline: 4/15/2023
• Submission timing for best consideration:
  For best consideration, applicants should submit their AACOMAS application at least four weeks prior to the deadline.
• First-year class matriculants’ selection factors:
  The major criteria for rating applicants are academic and non-academic achievements. Academic assessments include: Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores, grades and Grade Point Averages (GPA). Personal characteristics include: the applicant’s ability and desire to fulfill the college’s commitment to the primary care and underserved needs of Alabama and the region, personal experiences with patient populations, physician shadowing, community/volunteer service, leadership positions and honors received. Letters of recommendation play a major role in the assessment of applicants.
• International students (non-U.S. citizens or temporary residents) considered: No
• Early Decision Program (EDP) offered: No

MCAT

• Oldest MCAT considered: 7/31/2017
• Accept September 2021 MCAT scores: Yes
• Accept January 2022 MCAT scores: Yes

Accepted Sources for Letters of Recommendation

• AACOMAS
• Interfolio
• Paper

Supplemental Application

• Supplemental application required? Yes
• Earliest supplemental application submission date: 7/1/2021
• Supplemental application deadline: 4/15/2022
• Supplemental application requirements:
  Verified primary applications are screened for minimum academic requirements. Selected applicants will receive an email with a link to complete an online supplemental (secondary) application. Two (2) required essays are part of the supplemental application. A $50 non-refundable supplemental application fee is required.
• Fee waiver available: Yes
• Waiver conditions:
  Students receiving AACOMAS waiver are automatically eligible for ACOM waiver.
• Supplemental application sent to the following prospective students:
  Supplemental applications are sent to qualifying applicants based on minimum GPA and MCAT score.
• Supplemental application fee: $50, non-refundable

Interview Format

The interview agenda consists of a full-day program with college and curriculum overviews, an in-depth campus tour and one 30-minute open-file interview with two ACOM faculty members. Candidates will have the opportunity to meet and have lunch with ACOM students on the interview day. Applicant interviews are held from August through April.

Applicants will be requested to submit necessary matriculation documents, including a deposit, according to the following AACOMAS traffic guideline schedule:

• Those accepted prior to November 15 will have until December 14
• Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 will have 30 days
• Those accepted between January 15 and May 14 will have 14 days
• Those accepted after May 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit
• After May 15 of the year of matriculation, each medical college may implement college-specific procedures for accepted students who hold one or more seats at other medical colleges

• Maximum time for applicant to accept offer: Submitting the deposit within the relevant dates listed above indicates acceptance
• Earliest acceptance date: 11/15/2021
• Latest acceptance date: 5/15/2022
• Deferred entrance requests considered: Yes
• Orientation / start date for first-year students: 7/18/2022

Science Courses

Required:

• Biology/Zoology, 8 semester hours with lab
• Organic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
• Inorganic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
• Physics, 8 semester hours with lab

Recommended:

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Anatomy
• Physiology

Non-Science Courses

Required:

• College English, 6 semester hours

Recommended:

• • Behavioral Sciences

Math/Statistics

Tuition and Fees

• 2021-22 annual resident tuition: $55,440
• 2021-22 annual non-resident tuition: $55,440
• 2021-22 annual resident fees: $250
• 2021-22 annual non-resident fees: $250
• 2021-22 annual health insurance fee: $3,264
• Fees include:
  • Computer
  • Technology (not computer)
• Estimated annual room, board, books and living costs: $30,000
• Average 2021 graduate indebtedness: 292,107

Deposit

• Amount of deposit to hold place in class: $2,000, non-refundable
• Additional deposit amount: $0
• Deposit applied to tuition: Yes

Financial Aid

• Financial Aid Website
• Enrolled students with federal financial aid: 83%
• Scholarships: Yes
• Average scholarship/grant: $52,695

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Address:
445 Health Sciences Boulevard
Dothan, AL 36303

Main phone: (334) 699-2266

Admissions office

Email: admissions@acom.edu
Phone: (334) 699-2266
Fax: 334-699-2268