Tyler Cunningham, 25, was working in the emergency room at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls when he got a phone call last January.
It was the admissions representative from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine in Meridian telling him he鈥檇 been accepted into ICOM鈥檚 inaugural class that would begin in fall. The private medical school is located next to the Sam and Aline Skaggs Health Science Center on the east side of the 网曝吃瓜-Meridian campus.
鈥淚 was ecstatic,鈥� said Cunningham, who鈥檇 been interested in medicine as a kid. 鈥淲atching my grandmother battle cancer cemented my decision to become a physician.鈥�
Amber Wright, 23, was visiting a friend in Pocatello last February when she received her call. 鈥淲hen they told me I was accepted, I was so excited,鈥� she recalled.
The next chapters of their lives will be daunting鈥攆our years of rigorous classroom study and clinical rotations, followed by medical residencies that can last three to eight years, depending on the specialty.
Three Bengals in first ICOM class, Tyler Cunningham (left), Julian Franzen and Amber Wright
Fourth Bengal Kallie Harrington
Cunningham and Wright are two of four Bengals in ICOM鈥檚 Class of 2022, which contains 162 students. Both hold bachelor鈥檚 degrees from 网曝吃瓜 in biology with an emphasis in biomedical science鈥擟unningham earned his in 2015 and Wright in 2017. The other Bengals are Julian Franzen, who graduated in 2016 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in microbiology, and Kallie Harrington, who received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology in 2014.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting opportunity for me ... not only to study medicine but to set the standard for generations to come,鈥� said Cunningham, who hopes to practice in Idaho after medical school.
网曝吃瓜 Appreciation Day
Construction of the three-story, $34 million ICOM building began in spring 2017, 15 months after Gov. C.L. 鈥淏utch鈥� Otter announced plans to locate the state鈥檚 first medical school on the 网曝吃瓜-Meridian campus. An affiliation agreement approved by the Idaho State Board of Education allows the independently operated ICOM to lease the land from 网曝吃瓜 for 40 years.
On Aug. 1, ICOM administrators hosted an 网曝吃瓜 Appreciation Day, celebrating the partnership and inviting 网曝吃瓜 faculty and staff to tour the 94,000-square foot building.
鈥淲e are Bengals at heart,鈥� said ICOM Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer Robert Hasty, pointing to the Bengal logos that appeared on electronic screens throughout the building for the occasion.
鈥淲e want this to be a rich, long-lasting and meaningful partnership,鈥� added ICOM President and Chief Executive Officer Tracy Farnsworth.
网曝吃瓜 and ICOM leaders note the partnership will allow for interprofessional education, sharing of resources and collaboration on research.
Idaho currently ranks 49th in the nation in the number of doctors per capita and 50th in the number primary care physicians.
鈥淭ogether we will make a difference. We鈥檙e going to put Idaho where it needs to be in terms of having access to excellent and high-quality care in all of Idaho, including the rural areas,鈥� Hasty said.
Cunningham and Wright believe their undergraduate education at 网曝吃瓜 has prepared them well for the rigors of medical school. Both worked as medical scribes鈥擟unningham at EIRMC and Wright for a women鈥檚 health clinic in Boise鈥攂efore entering med school.
Wright, who grew up nurturing 鈥渢ons of pets and animals鈥� near Idaho City in rural Boise County, knew as a teenager she wanted to study medicine. Working in home health and shadowing community doctors reinforced her desire to become a physician.
She鈥檇 like to practice in Idaho鈥攑erhaps operating a free women鈥檚 clinic in rural Boise County where patients have limited access to medical care.
鈥淚 know that being a doctor is a lifelong experience of learning and service to others and those are both things that bring me a lot of joy,鈥� Wright said.