Admissions

Admissions Policies and Procedures

KHSU-KansasCOM welcomes and encourages applications from qualified students who are interested in pursuing a career in osteopathic medicine, regardless of their state of permanent residence.

The Office of Admissions is dedicated to serving all students interested in KHSU-KansasCOM and prides itself on delivering professional and efficient service to all applicants. Applying to medical school can be a daunting task. That is why KHSU-KansasCOM is committed to ensuring applicants understand the application process, and our focus is to eliminate as much stress from the process as possible.

KHSU-KansasCOM applicants are encouraged to visit the KHSU-KansasCOM website to review the application process and view frequently asked questions. Applicants are also encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions directly. Admissions staff are available to respond to your calls and emails between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Central Standard Time).

Authorization to Release Applicant Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) specifies that only the applicant has access to the application material and the status of their application. If the applicant wants another party or multiple parties (e.g., parent, spouse, advisor, physician, friend) to check the status of their application, the applicant is required to submit, in writing, a signed waiver giving KHSU-KansasCOM personnel permission to discuss all details of the application with each designated individual.

Application Process for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Academic Requirements

The minimum academic requirements for admission to KHSU-KansasCOM Osteopathic Medical Student- First Year (OMS I) class are the following:

• The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required. Acceptable scores cannot exceed three (3) years of age. KHSU-KansasCOM will not accept scores that are over three years old.  The MCAT is administered electronically throughout the year. If applying for the 2027 entering class, only January 2024 scores and newer will be accepted. To register for the MCAT, register online at www.aamc.org. Direct questions to AAMC via their online contact form or call 202-828-0600.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident. KHSU-KansasCom does not currently accept applications from any student defined as "international" (e.g.,  non-U.S. citizens and/or in the U.S. on a F-1 visa status).
• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 
• Exceptional students who have fulfilled all of the prerequisite requirements may be considered for admission if they have completed 90 credit hours but yet not gained a B.S. or B.A. Degree, with an emphasis on those from institutions with wich the COM has an affiliations agreement or an 3+4 agreement.
• Satisfactory completion, with a grade of C or higher, of the following college/university courses, including laboratory work: 

While not required for admission, additional preparation in human physiology, cellular biology, genetics, immunology, nutrition, histology, and/or embryology will enhance fundamental preparation for the rigorous medical curriculum and is strongly encouraged.

Technology Requirements

Each entering student must have a good working knowledge of common personal computer (PC) use and applications. A portable device, such as a laptop and/or tablet, is required to engage in the curriculum. Students need to be prepared to bring their own technology (Laptop, iPad, etc.) for use in the classroom and in simulated clinical settings.  Please review the full list of requirements in the Technology at KHSU-KansasCOM section of the Student Rights, Professionalism, and Responsibilities  page.

Substitutions or Waiver of Admissions Requirements

Prerequisite course substitutions are permitted in some situations. Often, undergraduate students have taken courses, such as molecular or cellular biology, which may fulfill all or part of the prerequisite requirements for biochemistry. Calculus, at times, may satisfy part of the physics requirement as well. An applicant may request substitution of undergraduate coursework for KHSU-KansasCOM's biochemistry prerequisites by forwarding one of the following to the Office of Admissions:

• A faculty letter detailing the course content.
• A copy of the course description from the college/university catalog.
• A copy of the course syllabus.

Documentation providing the most detail will expedite the review process. For biochemistry, the information should indicate that the applicant has studied intermediary metabolism or, more specifically, lipid metabolism. Applicants will be notified of decisions upon review of course content. Please note that if a substitution is granted, the substituted course will not be counted toward the fulfillment of any other prerequisite.

Partner Program Academic Requirements

KHSU-KansasCOM has partnered with several Kansas-based colleges and universities in a 3+4 partnership agreement.  Students matriculating to KHSU-KansasCOM as a part of these partnership agreements complete their bachelor’s degree during their first year at KHSU-KansasCOM.  Admission pre-requisite requirements, outlined in the Student Handbook and Academic Catalog, are waived per the KHSU-KansasCOM Exception to Academic Policy statement in the Handbook.  The MCAT requirement is also waived, although it is recommended as a means of self-evaluation for the student applicant. These students are able to matriculate per that policy and per the partnership agreement that has been executed by both institutions.  

We Heart Program

KHSU-KansasCOM’s “We Heart” program focuses on the recruitment of certified Paramedics, Nurses, and other Allied Health Professionals, with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, and a minimum of 3 years of clinical experience to open the prospect of becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Nurses, Paramedics, and other Allied Health professionals are eligible to apply for acceptance in the College of Osteopathic Medicine through the AACOMAS application.   

As part of this program, these medical professionals are not required to complete the KHSU-KansasCOM Secondary Application and specific prerequisite requirements. KHSU-KansasCOM waives its requirement for submission of a MCAT score, although it is recommended as a means of self-evaluation for the student-applicant.  Students are still required to follow all application requirements and post-acceptance requirements including background checks, drug testing, and vaccination requirements.

For more information about the We Heart Nurses and We Heart Paramedics programs, contact the Office of Admissions at: KHSCadmissions@kansashsc.org. 

KHSU-KansasCOM Application Procedure

Step 1: AACOMAS Application

AACOMAS Online is a web-based application for individuals seeking admission to colleges of osteopathic medicine. The application allows prospective osteopathic medical students to submit their applications to AACOMAS through a secured web server. AACOMAS Online allows the user to create an account and spend multiple sessions completing their application. Applicants are able to update their address, telephone number, and certain biographical information and submit application fees online. Applicants will be notified by electronic mail when their materials have been received by AACOMAS.

AACOMAS Online is available for entering classes each May and is open through the following March. All application materials, including detailed instructions, can be accessed through the AACOM website, www.aacom.org. Applicants must request that official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended be mailed directly from the institution to the AACOMAS office. MCAT scores must also be forwarded directly to AACOMAS from the MCAT office. Mail transcripts and MCATs to:

AACOMAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9137
Watertown, MA 02471

AACOMAS gathers all the necessary material about each applicant and transmits the information in a standardized format to the college of osteopathic medicine selected by the applicant. AACOMAS has no participation in the selection process.

The applicant will receive from AACOMAS a computer-generated applicant profile with a calculation of GPA and MCAT averages. KHSU-KansasCOM will also receive the applicant profile, accompanied by a photocopy of the AACOMAS application and personal statement. KHSU-KansasCOM conducts an initial review of the transmitted AACOMAS application, MCAT scores, and academic records to determine which applications will be further processed.

Step 2: KHSU-KansasCOM Secondary Application

Applicants meeting the minimum initial review criteria may be invited to complete the KHSU-KansasCOM Secondary Application. The minimum criteria for receipt of an automatic Secondary Application are as follow:

• 500 MCAT score.
• 3.00 science GPA.
• 3.00 cumulative GPA.

Applicants are encouraged to include the scheduled MCAT test dates on the AACOMAS application to indicate the intent of taking or retaking the exam.

Successful applicants for admission are most often those with MCAT >503, Science GPA >3.35, and cumulative GPA >3.40

Applicants are required, as part of the secondary application process, to self-report any personal misdemeanor/felony convictions, along with a detailed explanation of the offense. Failure to notify KHSU-KansasCOM of a conviction, which is discovered later through the background check process, automatically disqualifies the applicant.

KHSU-KansasCom reserves the right to determine who receives a secondary application.

Step 3: Interview

Applicants whose applications (AACOMAS and Secondary) meet KHSU-KansasCOM’s admission criteria may be invited for an interview and asked to sign up online for an interview date and time. Only at the discretion of the Office of Admissions may applicants who fall below the minimum criteria be reviewed and offered an invitation to complete an interview. There is no guarantee a candidate will receive an invitation to interview. Granting an invitation to interview is in itself no guarantee of admission to KHSU-KansasCOM.

Applicant Protocol of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)

Applicants aspiring to become osteopathic physicians (DO) are expected to act professionally in their interactions with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) and with the college of osteopathic medicine. Responsibility, respect, good judgment, professional communication, and cooperation are qualities valued by the osteopathic profession, and applicants are expected to demonstrate these qualities throughout the application process.

1. Applicants are responsible for becoming familiar with admission requirements, which include all required coursework, following application procedures, and meeting all deadlines at each school to which they apply.
2. Applicants are responsible for the collection and timely submission of supplemental applications, letters of recommendation, transcript(s), and all applicable fees. All candidates who submit a supplemental application and subsequently complete the application process (submitting all required materials) are considered for admission by the colleges to which they submit a complete application. Applicants are encouraged to review the online application instructions and the colleges’ online program pages to determine the standards and processes for the colleges to which they are applying.
3. Applicants are responsible for reporting and updating any changes in the initially submitted application (e.g., address, telephone numbers, academic status, state of residence).
4. Applicants are responsible for responding promptly to all interview invitations and offers of admission (either to accept or decline).
5. Applicants who have made a final decision on the medical school they plan to attend have the obligation to promptly withdraw their applications from all other schools.
6. Applicants may hold only one osteopathic medical school acceptance after May 1.

Application Schedule

Applicants are encouraged to begin the application process a year prior to matriculation. The following represents a monthly guide for application preparation.

May

• Contact all colleges and universities attended and have official transcripts forwarded directly from the educational institution to AACOMAS.
• Begin AACOMAS application.
• Submit application.

June & July

• Invitations to complete the Secondary Application are sent to qualified applicants upon receipt of the AACOMAS application in the Office of Admissions*. 

*Secondary applications are sent, accepted, and processed until all interview positions have been filled. 

August

• Personal interviews begin.

Required Supplemental Materials

The following supplemental materials are required as part of the application process for KHSU-KansasCOM:

• A completed KHSU-KansasCOM Secondary Application and associated fee. ($50 nonrefundable fee waived if applicant has been awarded the AACOMAS fee waiver). KHSU-KansasCOM will also recognize the AMCAS fee assistance waiver program; however, the applicant must supply proof of documentation to the Office of Admissions in their request.  Other applicants seeking a waiver of the supplemental application fee may email the Office of Admissions directly for consideration of their circumstances.
• Letters of recommendation/evaluation from each of the following sources:
  • A physician (preferably an osteopathic physician).
  • A premedical source. This could be in the form of an advisor’s letter, a composite evaluation, or evaluations from a committee. If a premed source is not available, a letter from a science faculty member or advisor may be submitted.

Note: Letters of recommendation must be written within the two years prior to making applications. Letters must be dated within two years of the student’s anticipated matriculation year (i.e., if the student is starting classes in fall 2026, letters must be dated no earlier than January 2024).

Applicants who anticipate applying for military scholarships should make arrangements to obtain additional copies of evaluation letters. Military scholarship committees require original letters for this purpose. Applicants anticipating applying for these scholarships should obtain additional evaluation letters from evaluators and have the letters placed in officially sealed envelopes.

Applicant Review and Notification

KHSU-KansasCOM rates and reviews applicants based upon quantitative and qualitative data collected during the application process.

Applicants who are interviewing are also evaluated on the following criteria:

• Professional demeanor.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Coping skills.
• Empathy

After the interview, the Admissions Committee reviews the applicant’s file and votes on the applicant’s final admission decision and then recommends their decision to the Dean. Applicants are notified via electronic mail once a final admission decision has been made.

International Student Admissions

KHSU-KansasCOM does not currently accept applications from any student defined as “international” (e.g., any non-U.S. citizens and/or in the U.S. on F-1 visa status.).

Matriculation Requirements

Acceptance and Matriculation Fee

A matriculation fee, also known as the tuition deposit, is required for accepted applicants who wish to secure their seat for the upcoming class. Acceptance is conditional until all fees, paperwork, and coursework are completed. Failure to submit all documents and forms by the posted due dates will result in forfeiture of a seat in the upcoming class. These fees are non-refundable regardless of reason. Withdrawing prior to matriculation does not negate the no-refund policy.

Official Transcripts

All incoming students are required to submit official transcripts from all universities or colleges attended (including dual credit in high school) to the KHSU-KansasCOM Office of Admissions. Official transcripts submitted to AACOMAS are available for download to KHSU-KansasCOM. Applicants only need to submit updated transcripts showing courses that were in progress or showing degree conferment. If you have any questions about which transcripts are due, please contact the Office of Admissions at khscadmissions@kansashsc.org. All required coursework is to be completed with a C or better and degree completion is to be verified no later than July 1st of the matriculation year, unless otherwise granted by the Office of Admissions. Matriculants who have not completed the required coursework risk forfeiture of their seat.

Criminal Background Check

All applicants conditionally accepted for admission to KHSU-KansasCOM must have a criminal background check performed prior to matriculation. The background check will be performed at the sole expense of the applicant by a certifying organization retained by KHSU-KansasCOM. The certifying organization will report any convictions and conviction-equivalent adjudications for both felonies and misdemeanors to KHSU-KansasCOM. The purposes of conducting the background check are as follows:

• To identify, prior to admission, those applicants whose criminal histories may interfere with their ability to participate in clinical clerkships and/or to obtain professional licensure.
• To help satisfy KHSU-KansasCOM’s obligation to the health, welfare, and safety of its faculty, staff, and students, as well as that of the staff and patients at the clinical facilities where KHSU-KansasCOM students will perform any shadowing or clinical clerkships.

Any discrepancy between felony and misdemeanor information self-reported by the applicant during the secondary application or any new information discovered during any subsequent background check may subject the applicant/student to disciplinary action, including without limitation a rescinded offer of admission, probation, suspension, or dismissal.

Furthermore, students may be subject to subsequent background checks prior to participating in any shadowing or clinical clerkships. The scope of such background checks and the criteria used to determine the admissibility of a student are made within the sole discretion of the facilities hosting the shadowing and/or clinical clerkships. Any such background checks will be performed at the student’s expense and will be conducted in accordance with federal and state laws.

Drug Screening Policy

KHSU-KansasCOM is committed to ensuring a safe, professional, and ethical learning environment for all students. As part of our matriculation process, all incoming students must complete and pass a drug screening prior to matriculation. This requirement aligns with clinical site agreements, state medical licensing expectations, and professional standards for future health care providers.

All students must complete the drug screening through the KHSU-KansasCOM-approved vendor by the deadline specified by the Office of Admissions. Students are responsible for all associated costs of the screening.

Review of Results

Negative Results:

• Students who receive a negative drug screen will meet this requirement and proceed with matriculation.

Positive Result:

• If a student receives a positive drug screen, the results will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions and the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs for a decision on further action.
• Students will have the opportunity to provide documentation of any valid prescriptions or legitimate medical uses for detected substances.
• Unexplained or unapproved positive results may lead to revocation of admission or a referral for further review.

Diluted Result:

• If a student’s screening indicates a diluted sample, the student is required to retake the drug screening through the approved vendor at their own expense.

Student Identification Policy

KHSU-KansasCOM requires all students accepted into the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree program to provide identification as part of the admissions process. Any student accepted into the program, but who does not provide identification prior to the start of the term, will not be permitted to start. 

The following are recognized forms of identification that can be submitted to satisfy the requirement:

Primary Identification

• State-issued Identification Card,
• State-issued Driver’s License,
• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card,
• U.S. Military Identification Card,
• U.S. Military Dependent’s ID Card,
• U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551),
• U.S. Employment Authorization document with Photo (Form I-776),
• Consular ID (e.g. Matricular Consular).

Secondary Identification

If a prospective Student lacks primary identification, they may present multiple secondary identification documents, preferably those displaying a photograph and full name. The Acceptable Secondary Identification documents are:

• Expired, new, or suspended state-issued driver’s license,
• Social Security Card,
• Expired passport, including those issued by foreign counties,
• Student ID Card with photo,
• Welfare card,
• Health insurance or Medicare card,
• Voter ID card,
• Employment ID card,
• Professional license (e.g. nurse, beautician, mechanic),
• Flight crew ID card,
• Union membership card,
• Military records,
• Selective Service registration,
• Child’s birth certificate showing the student’s name as parent,
• Banking or credit card records from the past year (account numbers may be redacted),
• Utility bills from the past year,
• Income tax records or W-2’s (multiple years),
• Newspaper articles or publicity items with name and photo,
• Vehicle registration, title, or proof of car insurance,
• School yearbook with name and photo,
• Marriage certificate or divorce decree,
• Baptismal certificate or other religious record,
• Mortgage, lease, or rental agreement, 
• Diploma or school transcript.

The Office of Admissions will review the submitted documents.  Review must confirm the following:

• The document(s) submitted are legible and include a full scan of the document(s). 
• The document(s) submitted are the Identification documents included on the list within the policy. 
• The name on the identification matches the name on the application. 
• If the document(s) contains a date of birth, the date of birth on the identification matches the date of birth on the application. 
• Primary document(s) have an expiration date and are valid/not expired.

Upon verification, admissions contingencies will be cleared.
 

Financial Aid Program Participation

Should a student receiving Title IV funding be selected for verification, the documents used to accept them into their program may not meet the Department of Education’s (ED) requirements unless an approved state or federal picture ID is submitted. In such cases, the student will be required to provide one of the ED-approved documents to satisfy verification requirements.

Health Form for Matriculation

Each entering student must submit a completed health form provided and approved by KHSU-KansasCOM or provide immunization and vaccination documentation from their physician to be approved by KHSU-KansasCOM prior to matriculation. Applicants/students are required to follow all specific guidelines outlined in Parts I, II, and III in the SentryMD Health Requirements documents. Students/applicants are sent a link to these documents at the end of the admissions process once the student has submitted the tuition deposit for KHSU-KansasCOM.

Immunization and Health Requirements

KHSU-KansasCOM students who project themselves as future health care professionals are obligated to protect their health and the health of their future patients. All matriculating students at KHSU-KansasCOM are required to be vaccinated in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization guidelines.

These guidelines change and are updated periodically, and applicants and students are expected to be knowledgeable regarding the current CDC guidelines for health care workers found on their website: www.cdc.gov. KHSU-KansasCOM students are responsible for maintaining a current and thoroughly documented official record of immunizations prior to and during enrollment.

Additionally, students who cannot provide an official up-to-date immunization record per KHSU-KansasCOM requirements will not be allowed to begin or continue with clinical training and will be referred to the appropriate institutional office for disciplinary action. 

Tuberculosis Screening

Documentation of a negative Mantoux test (PPD) or blood test done within the past twelve months must be provided. Students may be required to provide evidence of chest x-ray results or other information certifying a noncontagious state.

Immunizations

Students must provide documentation of immunization for the following:

• COVID-19 (recommended that student in clinical settings receive boosters, as well),
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)
• Polio (three doses) or a booster
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Rubeola (MMR-two doses) or titers,
• Hepatitis B series.

A  quantitative titer for Hepatitis B must be completed. If titer results show non-immunity, an additional three-dose vaccine series or Heplisav-B two-dose series must be completed.

Immunization Deadlines

Students are required to have the listed immunizations completed by the following deadlines:

• Students accepted September through April of the Admission Cycle: First business day of June.
  • All vaccines completed or in progress.
• Students accepted from the Admission Waitlist (typically after the first business day in May): Friday prior to the start of New Student Orientation. Please note that orientation dates vary from year to year. Please check with Admissions for the actual due date.
  • All vaccines except Hepatitis B Quantitative Titer and Tuberculosis Screening
    • TB Screen with proof of negative test and HepB Quantitative Titer: First business day in September
    • Hepatitis B Series if required to repeat due to non-immunity (Three dose vaccine series or Heplisav-B 2 dose vaccine series): Last business day in February

All matriculating students to KHSU-KansasCOM are required to maintain their vaccines in accordance with the CDC recommendations. Students who fail to meet these guidelines jeopardize their eligibility for continued enrollment. Extensions to complete immunization items may be granted at the discretion of the Office of Student Affairs. However, applicants who fail to complete any immunizations after an extension will be in jeopardy of losing their seat.

The Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Strategic Academic Programs has discretionary authority to evaluate student compliance as being on track or out of compliance and take necessary corrective or disciplinary action. Please note: CDC guidelines change and are updated periodically, and applicants and students are expected to be knowledgeable regarding the current CDC guidelines for health care workers found on: www.cdc.gov.

Required Textbooks

The lists of required textbooks for students are posted on the KHSU-KansasCOM library website. Whenever possible, the library will provide digital copies of the textbooks; however, students may need to purchase some books in physical form if they are not available digitally. In addition, students may choose to purchase a physical copy of a textbook if that is their preference. Students are responsible for ensuring they have access to all textbooks on the provided lists.

Medical Equipment

Students are required to have certain medical equipment when starting medical school. Information is sent from the Office of Student Affairs to students prior to matriculation concerning specific equipment and pricing. Medical equipment is typically priced between $1,000 to $1,200 and can be purchased through the KHSU-KansasCOM endorsed vendors or at a variety of online vendors. Please click HERE for the order link. 

Transfer Admission Policy

KHSU does not currently accept applications for admission from transferring students from other medical schools.

Health and Minimal Technical Standards

Personal Competencies for Admission and Matriculation

A candidate for admission to KHSU-KansasCOM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program must possess, or be able to achieve through reasonable accommodation, the standards set forth in this policy that would enable the individual to carry out the activities described in the sections that follow. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and any other applicable laws. An accommodation will not be provided if it would result in the fundamental alteration of KHSU-KansasCOM’s programs, services, or activities, or if it would impose undue financial burden on KHSU-KansasCOM.

Upon matriculation to the program, the student must continue to possess, or be able to achieve, through reasonable accommodation, all requirements outlined below throughout their progression in the program. These personal competencies may also be referred to as technical standards in documents from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). The practice of medicine requires the performance of specific essential functions that fall into broad categories, which include but are not limited to the categories defined below.

Graduation from the DO program signifies that the individual is prepared for entry into graduate medical education (GME), meets all requirements for osteopathic medical licensure, and possesses broad undifferentiated general knowledge in medicine and the basic skills required for the practice of osteopathic medicine. It therefore follows that graduates must have the knowledge and skills needed to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and be able to render a wide spectrum of osteopathic medical patient care. The student must be able to integrate consistently, quickly, and accurately, all information received by whatever sense(s) employed. In addition, the individual must have the intellectual ability to learn, analyze, synthesize, and apply various types of information in a self-directed manner within the context of patient-centered decisions across a broad spectrum of medical situations and settings. The avowed intention of an individual student to practice only a narrow part of clinical medicine, or to pursue a non-clinical career, does not alter the requirement that all medical students take and achieve competence in the full KHSU-KansasCOM curriculum.

The following technical standards, in conjunction with the academic standards, are requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation. The term “candidate” refers to candidates for admission to KHSU-KansasCOM as well as current osteopathic medical students who are candidates for retention, promotion, or graduation. Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Coordinator after the applicant is accepted to begin a confidential conversation about what accommodations they may need to meet these standards. Fulfillment of the technical standards for graduation from medical school does not guarantee that a graduate will be able to fulfill the technical requirements of any specific residency program. Granting of an accommodation by the COM is no assurance of granting of accommodation by an agency providing national licensure or certification examinations or evaluations. Accommodations must be re-evaluated and applied for annually while a student at KHSU-KansasCOM.

Under all circumstances, a candidate or student should be able to perform the following in an independent manner, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Observation

Candidates and students must have sufficient vision to be able to observe demonstrations, experiments, and microscopic laboratory exercises. They must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and in close proximity. They cannot substitute the evaluation, description, impressions, or findings of another person for their own.

In addition, all medical school candidates and students must possess visual acuity that is not overly sensitive to the bright lights found in medical schools including simulated patient rooms, operating rooms, hospital hallways, public spaces, and lab environments.
 
Included below is a table containing relevant examples specific to this competency area. This table does not limit nor otherwise restrict the standard that students and candidates for admission are responsible for meeting and/or performing the skills and abilities defined in this area, irrespective of whether a specific expectation and/or example is included in this table. The examples presented are for illustrative and informational purposes only and are not intended to be an exhaustive listing of requirements.

Communication

Candidates and students must be able to communicate with patients and colleagues. They must be able to hear, speak, and be fluent in the English language.

Included below is a table containing relevant examples specific to this competency area. This table does not limit nor otherwise restrict the standard that students and candidates for admission are responsible for meeting and/or performing the skills and abilities defined in this area, irrespective of whether a specific expectation and/or example is included in this table. The examples presented are for illustrative and informational purposes only and are not intended to be an exhaustive listing of requirements.

Motor

Candidates and students must have sufficient motor functions to enable them to execute movements that are reasonably required to provide general and emergency treatment of patients (i.e., palpation, auscultation, percussion, CPR, osteopathic manipulation, and other diagnostic and therapeutic modalities). These actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision. Additionally, candidates and students must possess sufficient posture, balance, flexibility, mobility, strength, and endurance for standing, sitting, and participating in the laboratory, classroom, and clinical experiences.

Included below is a table containing relevant examples specific to this competency area. This table does not limit nor otherwise restrict the standard that students and candidates for admission are responsible for meeting and/or performing the skills and abilities defined in this area, irrespective of whether a specific expectation and/or example is included in this table. The examples presented are for illustrative and informational purposes only and are not intended to be an exhaustive listing of requirements.

Sensory Skills

Candidates and students must have enhanced sensory skills, including accuracy within specific tolerances and functional use for laboratory, classroom, and clinical experiences. Candidates and students who are otherwise qualified but who have significant tactile, sensory, or proprioceptive disabilities must be medically evaluated. Examples of issues requiring further evaluation include, but are not limited to, individuals injured by significant burns, those with sensory motor deficits, cicatrix formation, or absence and/or malformations of the extremity(ies).

Included below is a table containing relevant examples specific to this competency area. This table does not limit nor otherwise restrict the standard that students and candidates for admission are responsible for meeting and/or performing the skills and abilities defined in this area, irrespective of whether a specific expectation and/or example is included in this table. The examples presented are for illustrative and informational purposes only and are not intended to be an exhaustive listing of requirements.

Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities

Candidates and students must demonstrate problem-solving skills, which involve intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities. These abilities include both short-term and long-term memory, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. In addition, candidates and students must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and be able to understand and manipulate the spatial relationships of structures.

Included below is a table containing relevant examples specific to this competency area. This table does not limit or otherwise restrict the standard that students and candidates for admission are responsible for meeting and/or performing the skills and abilities defined in this area, irrespective of whether a specific expectation and/or example is included in this table. The examples presented are for illustrative and informational purposes only and are not intended to be an exhaustive listing of requirements.

Behavioral, Professional, and Social Attributes

Candidates and students must possess the professionalism required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities. They must show evidence that they can exercise good judgment and promptly complete all responsibilities involved in the education process attending to the assessment and care of patients. Candidates and students must also demonstrate that they can develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with faculty, staff, colleagues, and patients. Additionally, they must be able to tolerate physically and mentally taxing workloads, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and function in the face of the uncertainties inherent in-patient care. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are some of the personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and educational processes.

Additionally, KHSU-KansasCOM maintains a curriculum that stresses the importance of the body as a unit and the applicability of touch as an integral part of diagnosis and treatment for all patients of all genders. To acquire competencies in physical diagnosis and osteopathic manipulative medical diagnosis and treatment, all students are required to palpate others and be palpated by members of all genders. Students are required to assume the role of the patient to develop an understanding of the patient’s experience throughout the curriculum. This includes, but is not limited to, permitting self and demonstrating on others physical exams such as abdominal, cardiac, and musculoskeletal, osteopathic structural exams, osteopathic diagnosis, and osteopathic manipulative treatment.

Included below is a table containing relevant examples specific to this competency area. This table does not limit or otherwise restrict the standard that students and candidates for admission are responsible for meeting and/or performing the skills and abilities defined in this area, irrespective of whether a specific expectation and/or example is included in this table. The examples presented are for illustrative and informational purposes only and are not intended to be an exhaustive listing of requirements.

Physical Health

To ensure compliance with the respective state’s Department of Public Health requirements and to exhibit exemplary commitment to the rights and integrity of all parties in the education of health care professional students, KHSU-KansasCOM has established medical status credentialing requirements that must be completed prior to matriculation. In addition to the personal competencies listed above, candidates for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree also must be sufficiently free of any serious communicable diseases. Medical status credentialing is designed to ensure that the safety of patients is not compromised while protecting the rights and safety of students as well. For detailed information, contact the Office of the Dean. Please refer to the section  on Immunizations and Health Requirements for more details.

Immunization and Insurance

KHSU-KansasCOM requires its students to meet certain health-related requirements, including a requirement to be fully insured with personal health insurance and to be fully vaccinated according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Please refer to the section  on Immunizations and Health Requirements for more details.

Required Health Insurance Coverage

KHSU-KansasCOM requires all students to carry health insurance. To meet this requirement, each year all registered students are automatically enrolled in KHSU-KansasCOM’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Students who have comparable health insurance coverage, meeting all KHSU-KansasCOM requirements, may waive automatic enrollment in SHIP coverage during the open waiver period at the beginning of each academic year.

Detailed information about the SHIP plan, including information regarding enrollment and waiver, can be found at www.4studenthealth.com.

Open Enrollment and Waiver for the KHSU-KansasCOM sponsored SHIP policy typically begins approximately at the beginning of the academic year. The coverage period begins on August 1st and lasts approximately 365 days.

Students who do not waive out of the KHSU-KansasCOM SHIP by the deadline will, by default, be enrolled in SHIP and remain enrolled through the end of the plan year and thus will be responsible for the associated premiums.

The following are the minimum requirements for students’ personal health insurance coverage:

• Coverage must be active and continuous (no break or termination) for the entire academic year.
• Coverage must be ACA (Affordable Care Act) compliant.
• Maximum benefit must be unlimited.
• Deductible must be $1,000 Single/ $3,000 Family or less per person, per policy year.
• Claims must be paid by a U.S.-based company, and the underwriting company must be owned, operated, and headquartered in the U.S. and must be in full compliance with all applicable federal laws.
• Coverage must include a provider network within 25 miles of the KHSU-KansasCOM area for primary routine care, specialty, hospital, and diagnostic care.
• Plans must provide coverage in all 50 states.

Policies that only cover catastrophic events are not acceptable. Policies that are provided through health care co-ops are not allowed. Prior to beginning clinical experiences, KHSU-KansasCOM students in OMS III and OMS IV must submit additional proof of personal health insurance to the Office of Clinical Education. All students must report any break in coverage or change in health insurance while attending classes through www.4studenthealth.com. KHSU-KansasCOM students must report any break in coverage or change in health insurance to the Office of Clinical Education during OMS III and OMS IV. Failure to maintain health coverage is a professional and ethical deficit and could result in an appearance before the Student Performance Committee and punitive action being taken, up to dismissal from the COM.

Students on Medicaid can submit for a waiver through the verification process.

Special Note:

It is the policy of KHSU-KansasCOM to provide equal opportunities for all applicants and students with respect to admission, financial aid, and access to education programs, services, and activities, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, medical condition or other protected categories. The intent of this policy is to provide each student with the opportunity to excel academically, while creating an equitable environment conducive to learning. In doing so, however, the KHSU-KansasCOM must maintain the integrity of its curriculum and preserve those elements deemed essential to the acquisition of knowledge in all areas of osteopathic medicine, including the demonstration of basic skills required for the practice of osteopathic medicine.

Any student accepted to KHSU-KansasCOM who wants to request accommodations for a disability should follow the Accommodations Policy and Process and submit all required documentation to Disability Services, located in the Office of Student Affairs. Accommodation, if granted, is not retroactive and will not replace performance or evaluations completed before the accommodation is received.

Housing for Students

KHSU-KansasCOM does not have any campus-owned housing for students. Staff in the Offices of Admissions, Student Affairs,  are available to assist students with identifying housing locations and options within the greater Wichita area. Housing expenses for OMS III and OMS IV Clinical Rotations are the responsibility of the student, not the institution.