Page 135 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2017

and we acted on it.”
With that foundation of meeting
unmet needs, WCU has continued
to innovate. Ten years ago, King says, they realized the need for more primary medical care. There was no school of osteopathic medicine in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana or Arkansas at that time. “We moved
to meet that need,” he said. “It’s the same with pharmacy in a state that has only one pharmacy school; most of the surrounding states have one public and one private pharmacy school.”
King stresses that WCU has not intentionally started any programs to compete with existing programs but is simply addressing the health care needs of the area.
It has taken some public outreach
to introduce osteopathic medicine
to area residents who are more familiar with the medical doctor degree. Doctors of osteopathy are educated in human health care the same as medical doctors — which
is called allopathic medicine — but generally focus on primary/family care. Graduates of allopathic schools, such as the University of Mississippi Medical School in Jackson, usually specialize. “A doctor of osteopathy
can specialize but most of the focus
is on primary care,” King points out. “About 65 percent of our graduates are in primary care while only 10 percent of UMC’s are in primary care.”
The College of Osteopathic Medicine graduated its first class in 2014,
and the graduates are completing residencies and will soon begin to practice. The schools is currently
developing residencies on the Coast. “We are excited to see them enter the medical field and help fulfill the goal to address the shortage of physicians in Mississippi and surrounding states and
to have an
impact on
health care
in rural and
underserved people of this area,” King said.
There were 2,800 applicants for
the 100 seats in last fall’s entering class. One of the questions asked of applicants was ‘where do you plan
to practice?’ “If they say Mississippi, that’s a priority but they get points for Mississippi, Alabama or Louisiana,” King said. “We try to favor applicants from the Mid South.”
Last August, William Carey University welcomed the first class
of 30 students out of 100 qualified applications in the new Doctor of Physical Therapy program. “We
are thrilled with the quality of our inaugural class. They meet or exceed the national standards for physical therapists accepted to DPT programs,” said Dr. Cynthia Scott, DPT professor and program director.
Graduates from the program will be
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June 2017 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 135
THE DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY students modifying toy cars for children with limited physical capabilities.
prepared to work in many settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings and nursing homes.
Construction is underway on WCU’s pharmacy school, which will offer
the Doctor of Pharmacy degree and train students to become professionals capable of ensuring the effective and safe use of drugs in patient care.
King said professors from around the country are showing interest in coming to the school. The school is projected to open in 2018 with 60-70 students in the initial class, and it will employ 20- 25 faculty and staff.
William Carey University Tradition Campus 19640 Highway 67, Biloxi 228.702.1775 wmcarey.edu
story by Lynn Lofton
photos courtesy of William Carey University
EDUCATION
William Carey University meeting needs