Duquesne University received another boost for its proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Eden Hall Foundation.

Coming just a month after the university broke ground for the medical college, the gift will support construction of the new building and state-of-the-art medical training equipment.

The medical college will address critical issues in health care, including helping to alleviate the looming shortage of primary care physicians, especially in underserved urban and rural settings. The COM will also work to increase diversity in the medical profession by looking to attract, retain and graduate a more diverse student body.

"I'd like to thank the Eden Hall Foundation for this very generous gift, which will help us to educate and train the next generation of doctors so they can serve some of the region's most vulnerable populations," said Duquesne University President Ken Gormley. "The medical college is Duquesne's boldest venture yet - one that will impact the health and wellness of thousands of people in our region. It will promote much needed health equity and opportunity to communities here and throughout the nation."

Improving health care access and quality is important for Eden Hall to fulfill its mission, said Sylvia Fields, executive director of the foundation.

"We are working to support endeavors like the college of medicine that will improve the overall health and well-being of everyone who lives in southwestern Pennsylvania," Fields said. "By providing more primary care doctors to underserved areas in our region through creative partnerships with federally qualified health centers and community based hospitals, Duquesne's medical college will provide an essential service to building healthy communities, where everyone has a chance to thrive.

"Furthermore, with the University's expertise in nursing, pharmacy, allied health care and the sciences, Duquesne is perfectly positioned to launch a medical college and continue its legacy of graduating students who provide excellent healthcare to the citizens of our region and beyond," she said.

The University also has a long history in promoting health equity in the region, said William Generett, Duquesne senior vice president for civic engagement and external relations.

"Through the work of its Center for Integrative Health, the University has provided thousands of health screenings, flu shots, COVID vaccines and asthma clinics in underserved communities," he said. "The medical school will enable us to build and bolster this work."

The Eden Hall grant marks the latest sign of the continuing momentum for the COM. In January, the college received a $3 million grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation and moved one step closer in the accreditation process when it received "candidate status" from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,000 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

It's time for bigger goals
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Published

April 13, 2022