Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) is a unique medical college whose graduates consistently demonstrate superior ability during their internship, residency and years of professional service to the community.

In cooperation with three major public universities, The University of Akron, Kent State University and Youngstown State University, NEOUCOM offers students the opportunity to obtain a combined B.S./M.D. degree in as few as six years. Students already holding a baccalaureate degree from another four-year university may also be admitted to the M.D. program.

The only medical school in Ohio to offer the benefits of the combined degree and a consortium, NEOUCOM capitalizes on the strengths, assets and facilities of the three major public universities and 17 associated hospitals. These hospitals, located in the Akron, Canton and Youngstown areas, serve as clinical training sites for NEOUCOM students. NEOUCOM and its associated hospitals also co-sponsor graduate and continuing medical education programs for residents, physicians and allied health professionals.

Our History

In the summer of 1972, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill which provided $50,000 to "a consortium of state universities in northeastern Ohio for preparation of detailed plans for medical education based insofar as practicable upon facilities of existing universities in each area and upon community hospital facilities." Those universities, The University of Akron, Kent State University and Youngstown State University, developed a plan for expanding medical education opportunities in northeast Ohio, including establishment of a medical school.  In August 1973, the General Assembly of the State of Ohio passed legislation to establish NEOUCOM. In 1975, 42 students were selected for the charter class of the combined B.S./M.D. curriculum, beginning their studies at our affiliated universities.

In 1981, NEOUCOM received full accreditation and graduated its first class of 42 physicians. Today, the College of Medicine awards 100-105 doctor of medicine degrees annually. 

Our Resources

NEOUCOM operates on an annual budget of nearly $25 million, with the State of Ohio providing about 70 percent of the revenue.

• The College's Medical Education Foundation, supported by private, corporate and foundation contributions, provides scholarships and loans to medical students.
• The Oliver Ocasek Regional Medical Information Center, located on the Rootstown campus, houses more than 91,000 books and journals. It is linked, by computer, to libraries in each of the teaching hospitals and consortium universities, as well as other universities throughout Ohio via OhioLINK.
• The Office of Continuing Medical Education provides continuing education programs for residents, physicians and allied health professionals.
• The Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs is committed to enhancing the recruitment, admission and retention of students from under-represented groups in the field of medicine (African American, Mainland Puerto Rican, Mexican American and Native American).
• In addition to the medical degree program, NEOUCOM offers graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. in biomedical and behavioral sciences through the University of Akron and Kent State University.
• The Division of Community Health Sciences teaches and conducts research in the areas of aging, chronic disease, alcoholism and environmental concerns. The Division also provides consultation for physicians at NEOUCOM's associated hospitals and for community agencies int he areas of health care research.
•  The area served by the College includes 17 counties in northeastern Ohio; Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Geauga, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Lake, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne.

Our Faculty

NEOUCOM has more than 50 basic medical sciences and community health sciences faculty members involved in both teaching and research on the Rootstown campus. More than 1,700 physician-faculty members teach students at the 17 associated hospitals.

The Collaborative Medical Research Building, a state-of-the-art facility, has provided the consortium's basic medical scientist and physician faculty members a central location to perform research. The faculty provides researchers with the most up-to-date technology, equipment and research tools available.

Faculty members are performing research on such topics as the occurrence, cause and prevention of childhood injuries; use of pain-killers; alcoholism and substance abuse; cholesterol; hypertension; memory functions, and heart and lung disease.

Our Students

More than 750 students apply to NEOUCOM's B.S./M.D. program each year. About 105 students are admitted to the B.S./M.D. program each year to begin studies at one of the three consortium universities. Of those accepted into the program the average ACT score is 30 and the average SAT score is 1333, both well above national averages.

Our Graduates

Approximately 80 percent of our graduates receive one of their top two residency choices, demonstrating the high-quality education received at NEOUCOM.

More than 50 percent of NEOUCOM alumni have located in Ohio, and nearly half of our graduates have entered the primary care specialities.