One vote separates Ohio University from purchasing land in Dublin for the expansion of its Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Friday, OU’s Board of Trustees will decide whether or not to purchase the 15 acres of land to house an additional OU-HCOM branch for $11 million — a cost that will come out of a gift of $105 million given to the college in 2011.
The money for the gift came from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations in Cleveland.
OU-HCOM Dean Jack Brose presented to trustees Thursday on the progress of the Dublin campus, 7001-7003 Post Road.
The expansion, dubbed “OU-COM,” currently has a target enrollment of 50 students by fall 2014, he said.
“We are so grateful for your enthusiasm and your vision,” said trustee Sandra Anderson. “I’ll call you the ‘Tigger’ of the day.’”
Anderson also serves as the Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Ohio State University.
Before it opens, OU-COM has to be accredited by several entities, including the American Osteopathic Association, which Brose is presenting to Friday in Chicago, Ill.
“Dean Brose has led the way and now we’re able to see these kind of results,” said OU President Roderick McDavis. “This has placed the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine on firm financial footing.”
OU-HCOM is also in the process of securing partnerships in the Columbus area, including one with OhioHealth, which was announced Tuesday.
OhioHealth would give OU access to 2,000 medical professionals and resources that can be used for research, Brose said.
“I think it’s going really well,” said Dona Goss, OU’s director of engagement and real estate. “It’s a great site for not only the medical college, but especially great for OU and the Columbus area.”
Brose hopes this partnership will encourage stronger relationships, including ones with Ohio State University, Mount Carmel and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
“We’re very excited about the prospect and our partners seem to be equally excited,” Brose said. “We’re hoping that moves forward and the provost is doing a great job.”
Dublin City Council is in the process of giving the university an additional 75 acres that surrounds OU-COM’s property, a decision that will hopefully be finalized by the end of May, Goss said.
“They want to understand what the university is planning on doing with the property before they convey it,” he added.
Two buildings are included with the purchase. However, only one building, located at 7003 Post Road, will be used exclusively by OU-COM in fall 2014.
The upper floors of the second building, located at 7001 Post Road, will continue to be used as office space until tenants’ contracts expire in 2017.
A storage shed, also located on the property, has potential to be used as an anatomy lab, Brose said.
sj950610@ohiou.edu
