Medical School Education in the Inland Empire
The University of California, Riverside, has announced in a news release
that the University is submitting a proposal to establish a new medical
school. Chancellor France Cordova made the public announcement in
Riverside on November 10. The news release states that “”it would be the
first medical school built in the state in 40 years.”” This statement is
incorrect.
The following information is provided to remind the community
that Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona takes its place as a
major medical and health professions resource in the Inland Empire.
WesternU was founded in 1977 as the College of Osteopathic
Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) and in 1978 the first class of 36 students
was admitted. The university began its 29th year of service this fall
(2005). Some additional facts about medical education at WesternU:
Today COMP has an enrollment of 724 students in its four-year
medical program
The current first year class has 219 students enrolled
500 students are Californians
Over 2,500 students have graduated from COMP as physicians
64% of COMP alumni practice in California
COMP alumni go into every specialty in medicine
COMP has numerous clinical rotation sites (medical centers,
hospitals, clinics, and practices) throughout the Inland Empire and
Southern California that are training sites for COMP students in their
third and fourth years of medical school. Sites include Arrowhead
Regional Medical Center and Riverside County Medical Center.
COMP sponsors 20 residency programs for a total of 246 positions
in California in disciplines ranging from family medicine to
neurosurgery.
The University and COMP are initiating an enhanced research
effort, further fulfilling the mission of the university as an academic
medical and health center.
Conclusion In addition to COMP, the University educates physician
assistants, physical therapists, pharmacists, nurses, and veterinarians
meeting the health care needs in the Inland Empire.
