FORT SMITH, AR — The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM) announces a formal linkage agreement between the ACHE Master of Science in Biomedicine (MSB) program and the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program. This agreement creates structured academic and professional development pathways that expand opportunity and access to osteopathic medical education.
Terms of the Linkage:
- Guaranteed Acceptance to ARCOM
MSB students will be granted guaranteed acceptance to ARCOM if they meet the following criteria:
- Fall Semester Performance: Achieve a minimum 3.2 GPA by the conclusion of the fall semester.
- Overall Academic Standing: Maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA upon successful completion of the MSB program.
- Conduct: Remain in good conduct standing throughout the MSB program.
- Recommendations: Obtain:
- A formal recommendation from the MSB Program Director.
- One additional letter of recommendation from an MSB faculty member.
- Admissions Requirements: Meet all other ARCOM admissions requirements, including completion of a verified AACOMAS application.
Students who meet the fall GPA threshold but do not maintain the 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement will be subject to a full review by the ARCOM Admissions Committee.
- Guaranteed Interview Option
MSB students who complete the program with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and remain in good standing are guaranteed an interview with ARCOM.
- Regular application
MSB students who do not meet these criteria may still apply to ARCOM.
- Program Monitoring
Admissions and program officials from both ARCOM and MSB will meet annually to review student performance and adjust the agreement as needed to uphold standards and ensure successful student outcomes.
Leaders and Students on the Impact
“This agreement reflects our continued commitment to student success and to strengthening the pathway to medical education in Arkansas and beyond,” said Kyle D. Parker, JD, President & CEO of ACHE.
Matthew White, PhD, Director of the ACHE MSB Program, said:
“Since the MSB program started in 2019, the vast majority of students that come to our program are aspiring to go to medical school. To that end, the program has placed over 170 students thus far, that’s 90% of our graduates, into medical schools across the country. Thankfully, most of those actually choose to stay right here at ARCOM. We want to provide our students and our prospective students with the opportunity to achieve their dreams of attending medical school. With that, I’m very pleased to announce this guaranteed pathway into ARCOM.”
Antonio Gachineiro, ACHE MSB alum (Class of 2025) and current ARCOM student doctor, shared the student perspective: “For me, the ACHE MSB program was the best academic decision ever in terms of preparation for my academic career in medical school. I do believe that linking the MSB program with ARCOM is extremely beneficial for the school and for the students as well, given that the pathway for medical school applications is extremely time consuming, expensive, and stressful.”
Shannon Jimenez, DO, Dean of ARCOM, emphasized the importance of the linkage:
“Today is really important for ARCOM, ACHE, and our Master of Science in Biomedicine program. The MSB students who persevere and excel in the program consistently become some of the most successful ARCOM students. The MSB program is especially meaningful to me because it serves students who may be non-traditional, underrepresented, first generation, or who simply need a little more mentorship and structure to get started in professional school. By finding that foundation, the program not only prepares them academically, but also provides the confidence and resilience that we know makes for outstanding healthcare providers.”
Matthew White, PhD (Director of the ACHE MSB Program) and Shannon Jimenez, DO (Dean of ARCOM)