William Carey University - WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine

WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine

On October 23, 2007, the Board of Trustees at William Carey University (WCU) unanimously voted to authorize Dr. Tommy King, president, to employ a dean for the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM). The rationale was to open the COM to address the severe shortage of physicians in Mississippi and surrounding states and to impact the healthcare of rural Mississippians.

In January 2008, Michael K. Murphy, D.O., was employed to aid in accomplishing this goal. On March 3, 2008, the College was officially established. Press conferences were held in Jackson at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Building and on the Hattiesburg campus of WCU on March 7, 2008. The President announced the establishment of the College and introduced Dr. Murphy, the founding dean. William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine was awarded provisional accreditation by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation at its meeting September 12-13, 2009.

William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine is the state’s second medical school and the first in the region to focus on osteopathic medicine. The first class of WCUCOM will graduate in 2014 and graduates will receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. First year enrollment includes 109 students.