College of Osteopathic Medicine at NMSU Breaks Ground in Las Cruces

By Anca Gagiuc, Associate Editor

Las Cruces recently hosted an event that brought together Governor Susana Martinez, three mayors, the executive chairman, and the presidents of the American Osteopathic Association and New Mexico State University. The attendees celebrated the groundbreaking of the new osteopathic college at NMSU, calling it “pouring the foundation for the future”.

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University will employ 350 people per year and will have an $87.3 million estimated economic impact on the region. Furthermore, it will serve around 600 students by 2020 in the New Mexico, Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico region. The goal is to create over 600 residency slots in the Borderplex region over the next 10 years.

“It’s exciting to be behind the scenes of an educational institution that serves as a win-win for all. That is a model for improving our secondary education system, and that will have a great positive impact on the region,” said executive chairman Daniel Burrell. “We’ve received our pre-accreditation, and we’re moving full-speed ahead with this project. We’re not just creating a school; we’re creating opportunity.”

“The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine will be a proud example of how public-private partnerships can bring communities together to make life better for New Mexicans,” added Governor Susana Martinez.

This is the United States’ first-of-its-kind partnership between a public university and private investors and a model solution in trying to improve healthcare, education and the economy with strong support from leaders in New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. BCOM’s first medical school class is projected to begin in August 2016.