New medical school to open August 2024 in Horizon West

The application process for students interested in attending the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine in Horizon West is now open. 

The school, located at 7011 Kiran Patel Drive, Winter Garden, is expected to welcome its first class August 2024.

OCOM, which first broke ground July 2022, announced its approval for the pre-accreditation process from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation Thursday, Sept. 14.

This approval allows the institution to start accepting applications and recruiting students to become part of the inaugural class of Florida’s newest medical school. 

OCOM benefactor Dr. Kiran C. Patel said the school is going to change health care for the region for generations to come.

"With an innovative medical school curriculum meticulously crafted by our esteemed faculty, under the leadership of the Dean & Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Robert Hasty, our institution stands at the forefront of modern medical education," Patel said. 

Hasty said the first priority of Patel was to set the highest standard for all measurable outcomes.

“We have recruited nearly 1,000 credentialed clinical faculty to achieve this vision," Hasty said. "OCOM was built from the ground up in pursuit of our vision to create a world-class medical school. The educational journey that awaits our medical students at OCOM promises to be transformative in training the physician of the future by cultivating their expertise and compassion. Through OCOM’s modern and comprehensive training, our graduates will emerge as well-trained and caring physicians, ready to make a profound impact on the lives of the countless patients they will care for."

The mission of OCOM is "to train caring and competent osteopathic physicians who will have an impact on the Central Florida community, our nation and our global community," institution representatives stated in a press release.

In order to achieve this goal, the medical facility has already secured affiliations with 20 hospitals, medical centers and health care organizations, with more in the works.

The affiliations will allow medical students at the school to begin rotations in 2026. 

OCOM is an exclusive medical school partner with the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Institute for Graduate Medical Education. The organization has a vision to create 1,000 newly developed residency positions over the next 10 years. 

President Dr. Daniel Newhaller said the approval marks a remarkable achievement for OCOM.

"As we have reached pre-accreditation status and can begin the student recruitment process, I am filled with immense excitement and a deep sense of gratitude," Newhaller said. "This day has been long anticipated, and it is a testament to the dedication and unwavering commitment of our exceptional team."

Prospective students are able to apply by clicking here.

To learn more about the pre-accreditation status at OCOM, click here. ocom.org/accreditation.