OU Unveils Bold Expansion Plan to Increase Medical School Enrollment, Meet State Health Care Needs

The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents approved an ambitious plan in Tulsa today to incrementally increase enrollment in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program in the OU College of Medicine at OU Health Sciences by more than 40% over the next five years – a strategic initiative designed to address the critical demand for additional health care professionals in Oklahoma.

The plan will increase admissions to the program from 163 to 232 students while also adjusting the curriculum to support student wellness and promote further academic success. These enhancements will further OU’s contribution to Oklahoma’s physician workforce, which currently ranks No. 48 in the nation for the number of active physicians per capita.

“By expanding our Doctor of Medicine program, we are taking a decisive step toward addressing the evolving healthcare needs of our state,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “This will ensure we continue to educate a skilled and dedicated physician workforce, prepared to tackle the dynamic medical landscape of our communities.”

The expansion also directly addresses Oklahoma’s growing demand for high-quality medical care, driven by an aging physician workforce approaching retirement, a rising adult and elderly population and the expanding scope of medical conditions requiring specialized care. Notably, half of all physicians who graduate from OU practice in Oklahoma.

"OU Health Sciences is pivotal in addressing Oklahoma's workforce need by not only training a diverse range of healthcare professionals but also by driving innovation and leadership across our seven health professional colleges – allied health, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and the health sciences graduate college,” said Gary E. Raskob, Ph.D., senior vice president and provost at OU Health Sciences. “Our graduates are exceptionally well-prepared to meet the state's most pressing health challenges, ensuring that every community in Oklahoma has access to high-quality care.”

Additionally, the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing has made significant progress in addressing the need for nurses in Oklahoma by accepting all qualified applicants to its baccalaureate nursing program for the third consecutive year. Since implementing this change, the College of Nursing has more than doubled its number of annual graduates, with more than 600 joining the workforce this fall, up from around 300 in 2021.

Also approved during the meeting was the creation of two pivotal new departments in the College of Medicine, including a new Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Molecular Genetics and Genome Sciences.

The Department of Emergency Medicine will enable emergency room physicians to be trained in Oklahoma City at OU Health, Oklahoma's only Level 1 trauma center, for the first time in more than 30 years. Emergency physicians will also be directly employed by OU Health for the first time in more than three decades, fostering greater integration and advancing clinical care, medical education and research.

The Department of Molecular Genetics and Genome Sciences will expand research capabilities at OUHSC in areas such as cancer genetics, epigenetics, genomic technology, artificial intelligence approaches to drug discovery and more, while contributing to OU’s goal of meeting benchmarks for Association of American Universities accreditation.

"The OU College of Medicine is a leader in innovative health research and medical education, driving advancements that shape the future of healthcare,” said Ian F. Dunn, M.D., FACS, FAANS, executive dean of the OU College of Medicine. “As a key partner in the OU Health clinical enterprise, our faculty and residents are dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care and improving clinical outcomes through evidence-based practices and cutting-edge treatments. Our faculty are also engaged in groundbreaking research that not only addresses current challenges, but also paves the way for innovative treatments that will impact patient care for years to come."

The Regents also approved the addition of a new Doctor of Philosophy in Cancer Biology, administered through the OU Health Sciences Graduate College. The new program will provide students with a specific background in cancer biology and translational research. According to the American Cancer Society, there are expected to be an estimated 24,450 new cases of cancer in Oklahoma in 2024, signifying the urgent need for additional cancer care and research in the state.

The new degree program will now go before the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for final approval.

This year, OU further reaffirmed its commitment to battling cancer in Oklahoma by announcing an expansion of OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center to Tulsa to improve health outcomes in Northeast Oklahoma.

During the meeting, the Regents also authorized the university to engage with the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Master Plan architect in additional evaluation, planning and designing of the next phase of stadium improvements. Future projects would include enhancements to the west lower seating bowl, west upper deck and press box. It is anticipated this schematic design process will result in future recommendations to the Board as construction has not yet been approved.

To significantly enhance support for transportation research in the Gallogly College of Engineering, the Regents approved design plans for a new infrastructure technologies building. Located on the Norman research campus, the facility will provide office and laboratory space for up to 12 faculty and 40 graduate students, six dry labs and additional opportunities for research in specialized areas such as unmanned vehicles, battery testing and fuel testing.

Also approved during the meeting were new academic and administrative appointments, including Nishanth Rodrigues as OU’s new chief information officer, Laku Chidambaram as interim dean of the Michael F. Price College of Business, Mark Morvant as interim dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies and Michael Markham as interim dean of the Honors College.

The Regents also approved the formation of search committees for deans of the College of Arts and Sciences, Michael F. Price College of Business and the College of Professional and Continuing Studies.

The board is set to next meet in November.