Introduction to Chicago’s New Medical School
The Chicago School’s new medical school is set to start enrolling students in fall 2026, making it the first to open in Chicago in nearly 100 years — just in time, staff hope, to help address the nationwide physician shortage.
Mission and Objectives
The Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first osteopathic medical school in Chicago, will aim to integrate mental health and physical health education to bring “whole-person thinking to wellness,” said The Chicago School President Michele Nealon. “We strive to be a leader in redefining what it means to train a physician in the 21st century, blending osteopathic principles with a mental and behavioral health foundation,” Nealon said.
Accreditation and Enrollment
The school received its pre-accreditation approval from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation early last month, making it an official medical school able to grant doctorates of osteopathic medicine. The school is now undergoing the recruitment and admissions process to enroll its inaugural class. The first class will be only 85 students to start, but after the first two cohorts have enrolled, the school will graduate up to 170 students each year, according to Nealon.
Facilities and Economic Impact
The medical school is being constructed in the former Tyson Foods building in the West Loop, and plans to open the facility in late 2025. The 247,000-square-foot space has eight floors of classrooms, laboratories and collaborative study spaces. The Chicago School is spending about $48 million in construction costs, and the expected economic impact over 10 years is projected to be $1 billion, with $4.8 million in taxes, according to Nealon.
Addressing the Physician Shortage
Nealon said that addressing the country’s mental health crisis and a physician workforce shortage was at the forefront of the school’s mission, going back to early discussions founders had in 2022. “The timing of the conversation was quite urgent and strategic. The country is facing a critical physician shortage, and Chicago and Illinois are at the epicenter of that,” Nealon said. According to the American Hospital Association, the U.S. will be short up to 124,000 doctors by 2033. And according to The Chicago School, Illinoisans will need over 1,000 additional primary care physicians by 2030 to meet increasing demand.
Osteopathic Medicine
Osteopathic medicine is a branch of medical practice in the U.S. that focuses on a “whole-person” approach to healthcare, including physical and mental health. Only about 25% of all medical students choose to go to osteopathic school. But it is a growing field. According to Dr. Teresa Hubka, president of the Chicago-based American Osteopathic Association, there are 42 colleges and 67 campuses around the country that offer the degree, and the profession currently has nearly 200,000 active practitioners.
Diversity and Mental Health
Dr. John Lucas, the new school’s founding dean, said the school hopes to attract more ethnically and racially diverse physicians to the field. Only about 12.2% of all 2024 enrolled students at osteopathic medical school currently come from underrepresented backgrounds, according to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s annual report. He added that the school will also prioritize its students’ mental health at a time when burnout is “at an all-time high across every specialty.” “We’re losing a lot of physicians,” he said. “So we need to encourage students to seek care when they need it, and to not have a stigma around looking to get help for things.”
Conclusion
The Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine is set to make a significant impact on the healthcare landscape in Chicago and beyond. With its focus on whole-person care, diversity, and mental health, the school is well-positioned to help address the physician shortage and improve healthcare outcomes for patients.
FAQs
- Q: When will the Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine start enrolling students?
A: The school will start enrolling students in fall 2026. - Q: What is the focus of the school’s curriculum?
A: The school will focus on integrating mental health and physical health education to bring “whole-person thinking to wellness.” - Q: How many students will the school graduate each year?
A: After the first two cohorts have enrolled, the school will graduate up to 170 students each year. - Q: What is the expected economic impact of the school over 10 years?
A: The expected economic impact over 10 years is projected to be $1 billion, with $4.8 million in taxes. - Q: Why is the school prioritizing diversity and mental health?
A: The school hopes to attract more ethnically and racially diverse physicians to the field and prioritize its students’ mental health at a time when burnout is “at an all-time high across every specialty.”
