FSU, LECOM’s Professional Schools Announce Partnership

FSU, LECOM's Professional Schools Announce Partnership

Nov 10, 2025 8:00 AM

Frostburg State University and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) have entered into an agreement to facilitate the admission of qualified FSU students into one of LECOM's professional schools.

Students interviewing successfully will be offered a provisional acceptance to LECOM's Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine or Doctor of Dental Medicine programs. Upon final acceptance, FSU students will matriculate at the LECOM campus of their choice.

"We are thrilled to establish this partnership that provides our students with a clear and accelerated pathway to medical school," said FSU's interim president Darlene Brannigan Smith, PhD. "This Early Acceptance Program reflects our commitment to supporting aspiring healthcare professionals ensuring that they have the resources and guidance they need to be successful, and these direct connections with our medical school partners reinforce Frostburg's role in driving workforce development by aligning academic programs with the evolving needs of the regional economy."

The goal of the LECOM Early Acceptance Program (EAP) is to allow students to be given a provisional letter of acceptance. Students can apply as early as their senior year of high school, depending on their desired program and track.

Some advantages of the EAP include enrollment at the largest medical school in the country; low tuition compared to other medical, dental, pharmacy and podiatric medicine schools; and the ability for students to focus on their studies without the cost or anxiety of applying to and interviewing with multiple schools. The program will also ensure that students can network with medical students and medical professionals at LECOM.

"This new partnership with LECOM not only gives our students another EAP option to osteopathic medical and pharmacy programs, but these are the first agreements we have secured for dental and podiatric programs, which creates exciting new opportunities for our students," said Dr. Karen Keller, Coordinator of FSU's Health Science Program. "Additionally, high school seniors will learn about FSU because of our affiliation with LECOM, which will help us to grow our programs at FSU." Keller continued, "We are very proud of our alumni who have attended professional schools and it's because of their reputations that we are able to expand our partnerships with programs such as those at LECOM, and we're excited to get started."

For more information, contact [email protected].

ABOUT LECOM

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is part of the nation's only osteopathic Academic Health Center and is the largest and one of the most affordable medical colleges in the United States. Founded in 1992, LECOM offers innovative, student-centered pathways to degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, dental medicine, podiatry, and health services administration. With campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Bradenton and Jacksonville, Florida; and Elmira, New York, LECOM is committed to excellence in education, research, and community service-preparing the next generation of highly skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals.