KCU Adding Campus in Joplin

The Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine announced today that it had received approval from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation to develop an additional medical school campus in Joplin, Mo. KCU, the largest medical school in Missouri and 10th-largest nationwide, said the new site would be able to accommodate 150 additional students each year in the doctor of osteopathic medicine program.

“The expansion of KCU to an additional location marks a significant moment for our University,and an opportunity to help address the rural health care needs for Missouri and the region,” said Marc Hahn, KCU’s president and CEO. “As the second leading educator of physicians for Missouri and Kansas, and with nearly 40% of our graduates practicing medicine in rural areas, this was a logical decision for us.”

The Joplin campus will be the first new medical school location to open in Missouri in 44 years, KCU said in a release.

“This important investment by KCU will further strengthen Joplin’s two major hospitals and bolster

the city’s position as a hub for health services and innovation for the four-state region,” Gov.

Nixon said. “I applaud KCU for making this forward-looking investment and congratulate the City

of Joplin on achieving another significant milestone that will improve the region’s health and

economy for years to come.”

The Joplin campus is being organized in collabortion with Mercy Hospital Joplin, Freeman Health System, the city of Joplin and philanthropic leadership from the surrounding community. Mercy plans to donate the property and facility that served as its temporary hospital from 2012 until the opening of the new Mercy Hospital Joplin last weekend. The 150,000-square-foot facility, built by Mercy at a cost of $100 million, is valued at $5.5 million, is expected to see its first students in 2017.