Lake Erie College and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Enter into Agreement

Lake Erie College (LEC) in Painesville, Ohio and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Erie, Pa. have much in common besides similar names. Both schools are committed to preparing future generations to succeed as professionals in their chosen careers.

Today, the two higher education institutions came together to help insure success for students majoring in the Biology - Pre-Medicine and Chemistry – Pre-Medicine Concentration programs at Lake Erie College. Leaders from the colleges signed an Early Acceptance Program (EAP) Agreement that will grant qualified LEC students a provisional early acceptance to LECOM’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy or School of Dental Medicine.

“We’re pleased to be joining with LECOM to train future generations of physicians, pharmacists and dentists,” said Lake Erie College President Michael T. Victor. “The acceptance program agreement will be beneficial to both institutions as we seek to fill the urgent healthcare needs of persons of all ages now and in the future.”

The collaborative Early Acceptance Program between Lake Erie College and LECOM encourages freshmen who are enrolling at LEC to pursue careers as physicians, pharmacists or dentists. Students can apply to the program as high school seniors or within their first two years of attendance at LEC. The program begins with three or four years of study at LEC, during which time students will be encouraged to pursue Bachelor of Science degrees. After meeting all of the EAP requirements and graduating from LEC, the students are accepted into one of the professional degree programs at LECOM.

“We have seen that students who attend undergraduate programs like those at Lake Erie College prove to be successful medical, pharmacy and dental students,” said Silvia M. Ferretti, D.O., provost, senior vice president and dean of academic affairs at LECOM. “Those students have the opportunity to spend time on our campus in Erie where our faculty and students will guide them as they complete the entrance requirements at Lake Erie College.”

Students who meet the requirements for the programs in high school are conditionally accepted into both LEC and LECOM simultaneously. Additionally, these students may earn their doctoral degrees years faster than their peers at other institutions. For example, an LEC student entering the “3+4” osteopathic medical program will graduate from medical school a year earlier than most students who start pre-medicine in the same year, while a pharmacy student going to LECOM in Erie will be in a “3+3” and will earn a doctor of pharmacy in just six years after entering LEC as a freshman.

Lake Erie College, founded in 1856, provides distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs grounded in the liberal arts. We empower students to deal with the diversity, complexity and change necessary to excel in the 21st century. We offer 32 undergraduate majors and master’s programs in business administration, education and physician assistant studies. Our students compete in 21 NCAA Division II varsity sports.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is the nation's largest medical college and with Millcreek Community Hospital and the Clinical Practices of LECOM forms the only osteopathic Academic Health Center in the United States. LECOM is at the core of this highly innovative medical education system and strives to add to the quality of life of our neighbors by bringing total health care to the community. LECOM is preparing the next generation of physicians, dentists and pharmacists at campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pa. and in Bradenton, Fla.