Duquesne University's proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) will educate the next generation of primary care physicians with state-of-the-art medical training equipment, thanks to a grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.
The $3 million grant is the largest gift Duquesne has received from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, and continues the COM's strong momentum as it plans for a fall 2024 launch. In recent months, the college has developed partnerships with health centers throughout Pennsylvania, advanced to candidate status in the accreditation process and received significant funding from foundations and other organizations.
"I want to express our deep appreciation to the Henry L. Hillman Foundation for this important gift, which will prepare our future medical students with the tools and knowledge to provide the highest level of care to patients, including those most in need," said Duquesne University President Ken Gormley. "As we've seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care doctors play a crucial role in keeping the public safe and healthy. With the help of this key Henry L. Hillman Foundation grant, physicians from our college of medicine will deliver essential help to vulnerable populations, both in urban and rural communities, furthering Duquesne's long legacy of promoting health equity in this region and elsewhere."
The grant will support construction of the COM building, which is set to begin this year. The funding will also be used to provide state-of-the-art medical training equipment, such as advanced simulation technologies, augmented reality anatomy labs and maker space.
"This grant will help ensure that our students receive exceptional training that will prepare them to provide compassionate, holistic care to underserved communities in Pittsburgh and beyond," said COM Dean Dr. John Kauffman. "With Duquesne's expertise in nursing, pharmacy, health sciences and other disciplines, we are well positioned to educate the next generation of physicians."
The medical college building, which will be located across the street from Duquesne's newly renovated UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, will also contribute to the development of the Uptown neighborhood, said Bill Generett, Duquesne's senior vice president of civic engagement and external relations.
"We are excited to be part of the revitalization of the Uptown area," he said. "The new building and surrounding area will spur economic growth and technological advancement, which will further benefit the community at large."
The COM comes at a time when the region and nation face a growing shortage of primary care doctors, and exemplifies Duquesne's long-standing commitment to promoting equity and opportunity in the region. The university's Center for Integrative Health and other schools provide thousands of health screenings, flu immunizations, COVID-19 vaccines and asthma clinics, among other services, for vulnerable populations in the region.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the COM building will be held on Tuesday, March 1 and will be livestreamed for the campus community.
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Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities
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