Visit Noorda-COM on Friday, June 2nd, and share your clinical advice with student doctors via in-person conversations or (pre-recorded) video.
Your experience is incredibly valuable! Come to Building 1 on Friday, June 2nd, to share your do’s and do “nuts” with students. Lunch and donuts will be provided. If you can’t attend in person, make a quick, informal video and upload it here.
The White Coat Ceremony marks the beginning of your journey as a physician. It is a day to celebrate with your family and friends and your Noorda-COM faculty and staff. This event embodies the osteopathic traditions that will allow you to become the competent, confident, and compassionate physician to which you aspire to be. Using the attached links you will find important information about the White Coat Ceremony for you as a student and for your guests.
Join us on April 26, 2023 8:00 am MST | More information to come.
This controlled substance prescribers course meets the Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing requirements for physician license renewal in Utah and includes a summary of the November 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain.
The following topics will be addressed throughout the course:
Understanding the medicine to decrease opioid prescribing, opioid-related overdoses, and death
Identifying methods for appropriate alternatives to opioids based on patient health situations
Minimizing the potential for patients with history of substance abuse to misuse opioids
Counseling patients and caregivers about safely using ER/LA opioid analgesics.
Speakers
Speakers will be Dr. Jon Benfield, Dr. Snigdha Ancha, and Dr. John Kriak
100 percent of first class of 90 students move to second year status
As the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) welcomes new and returning students to campus this week with its 2022 White Coat Ceremony the institution also looks back on an inaugural year filled with many milestones.
“The inaugural year of Noorda-COM has been a great success,” said Norman Wright, Ph.D., president and CEO of Noorda-COM. “Not only has our first class of medical students excelled but we are welcoming an incredibly diverse group of new medical students this year – all of whom will go on to help address Utah’s growing need for medical providers.”
INAUGURAL YEAR MILESTONES
All 90 members of the class (100%) completed their first year and will move on to their next year of didactic instruction.
For the 2021/2022 academic year, 23 students each semester made the Dean’s List (top 25% of the class in GPA). 18 students made the Dean’s list both semesters.
Additionally, at the end of their first year of instruction, Noorda-COM students took the COMAT Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test, a standardized assessment of core osteopathic and biomedical sciences knowledge typically taken at the end of second year.
Noorda-COM first-year students obtained a mean standard score of 188.8 compared to the national mean score of 197.4.
This demonstrates that one-half of Noorda-COM’s medical students could pass their national Board exams (taken at the end of second year) after their first year.
Noorda-COM also rolled out its research track. The purpose of the research track is three-fold. First, it enhances the student doctor’s ability to think critically and reason scientifically. Second, the research track provides scientific skills to enhance the students’ ability to advance medical knowledge and improve treatment throughout their careers. Third, it provides targeted research experiences within the field of specialty in which the students desire to match as residents.
22 students were mentored by 10 Biomedical and Clinical Faculty in 20 research projects.
7 Narrative Literature Reviews were prepared for publication with all first year students as authors on two papers.
20 active research projects were started with five different external grants funding the work and another 13 projects were started on a variety of health topics.
22 students were selected to participate in the research track and all will participate in peer reviewed publications and research presentations at conferences from their work.
Noorda-COM students made a significant community impact by:
Mentoring at Amelia Earhart Elementary School.
Volunteering at South Franklin Community Center.
Providing a Noorda-COM Day of Service in partnership with the United Way of Utah County.
Participating in the Mass Casualty Incident training at the new Provo Airport before it opened.
“100 percent of our students passed their first year, which is a remarkable accomplishment,” said John J. Dougherty, DO, FACOFP, FAOASM, FAODME, founding dean and chief academic officer. “They worked hard and embraced Noorda-COM’s transformative and innovative teaching model. I have great confidence they will continue to excel in their studies and go on to provide medical health services to people from all walks of life.”
INAUGURAL YEAR INSTITUTIONAL MILESTONES
The appointment of Dr. Norman Wright as president and CEO of the institution. Search committee representatives included former Governor Gary Herbert and Noorda-COM Board members Francis Gibson, Jonora Searles, and Heather Kahlert. Noorda-COM Student Government Association (SGA) President Brittney Harrell and Vice President Cassandra Bovee also served on the presidential search committee.
The building Topping-off Ceremony of the new four-story, 140,000 square foot academic building. Construction continues and is scheduled to be completed in 2023.
Noorda-COM actively engaged in Utah Legislative Advocacy providing leadership in supporting the passage of HB295 during the 2022 Utah Legislative Session. The new state law secures funding to increase residency programs in Utah. The advocacy gained national attention from the American Osteopathic Association seeking guidance for other states.
Dr. John Dougherty, DO, FACOFP, FAOASM, FAODME, founding dean and chief academic officer, was appointed by Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox to the Utah Medical Education Council.
Noorda-COM has established affiliation partners with 16 Utah hospitals to provide clerkships for approximately 1,000 medical students.
Noorda-COM entered into a partnership with Utah Valley University (UVU) Woodbury School of Business to offer qualifying Noorda-COM students a combined degree of Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and Master of Business Administration degree. Four students and one faculty member are currently enrolled in the program.
Noorda-COM completed its first year utilizing an innovative and unique curricular model developed by faculty and staff. It pioneers medical education for 21st century medical students. The curriculum utilizes short, pre-recorded video segments covering defined learning objectives. Students work collaboratively in small groups of 4-12 people in on-campus learning ‘pods.’ The curricular model is blended with high tech laboratory and simulation experiences.
More than 7000 hours of faculty time was utilized to develop pod content.
2,400 videos were created.
350 hours of instruction.
545 total teaching hours spent on simulation and OSCE.
162 hours of ultrasound and augmented reality
54 hours with the Apollo simulator manikin.
“The Noorda-COM inaugural year has been an exciting one full of many milestones as we established our institution for the benefit of a talented and diverse group of medical students,” said Wright. “The greatest milestone being the success of our first class of medical students. We are excited to welcome our new class and I firmly believe Noorda-COM is well on its way to becoming an esteemed medical education institution in Utah and the Intermountain West.”
About Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Located in Provo, Utah, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) offers an innovative and unique approach to medical education. Noorda-COM provides 21st-century medical students a curricular model blending active, small group learning with advanced laboratory experiences and research opportunities while also emphasizing school and life balance with a commitment to health and wellness. Noorda-COM focuses on preparing future residency-ready physicians committed to providing patient-centered healthcare. Noorda-COM is a private, proprietary institution. An independent governing Board of Trustees oversees Noorda-COM. The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation granted Noorda-COM Pre-Accreditation status in December 2020. For more information, visit noordacom.org.
This is the Noorda-COM Navigator, a once-a-week email with everything you need to know about campus, classes, and all things in-between. (Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see more photo-filled highlights of life at N-COM.)
Also, because you’re new to campus, your class’ edition of the Navigator will have an extra section – “Newbie Gnome Tips” – with extra details about Noorda-COM tips and resources. Here’s your first tip of the year!
Make life at Noorda-COM a family affair. Invite your friends and family to join The Village – a Facebook group that keeps your support system in the loop.
RESEARCH
Are you a Kandel, Elion, Mukwege or Charpentier? The Sorting Hat will declare your lineage on August 10 from 6–9 p.m.; dinner and games will also be provided. (This event is only for faculty and students.)
Get paid for elevating patient care. The Summit Patient Care Innovation Contest is accepting poster submissions until August 31. Submit your idea (on enhancing patient experiences) for a chance to win up to $10,000! Contact Dr. Bills immediately to register or ask questions.
IT
Amboss/Anki: If Amboss is not appearing on your Anki app, try installing it. (Open Anki, click “Tools” from the top menu, and select “Add-Ons.” Click “Get Add-Ons” and then paste this code into the text box: 1044112126. Once Amboss loads the list of add-ons, exit Anki, reopen, and login with your Amboss credentials.)
Canvas shortcut: The Canvas shortcut on your Surface Pro’s desktop doesn’t work; use this URL to access Canvas/your Noorda-COM SSO login.
Examplify: Examplify is now working, any students that had setup issues should be able to finish the installation process.
ExamSoft: You may ignore the setup for this app until further notice.
iHuman: You will not need iHuman until the beginning of September; please wait for further email instruction before setting up the application. (If you want to set up iHuman now, you can click on the iHuman shortcut on your desktop and click “Help! I forgot my account email or password.” Enter your Noorda-COM email, and follow additional instructions for a setup link/password.”)
Microsoft device registration: IT highly recommends that all students immediately register their device with Microsoft; it makes the repair process much easier. To register your device, click here and select “Register Device.” Type in the serial number (located on the back of your Surface Pro, under the stand) to finish the registration process.
Pronto: IT is currently working with Pronto to fix issues, but sometimes, you won’t be able to access your assigned courses (on the mobile app or website). (However, some students have had success by clicking on the Pronto link in Canvas.) If that doesn’t work, please be patient as they work with Pronto to resolve this issue.
WiFi: When your Surface Pro was set up, it was connected to the Noorda-Guest network. However, some apps (like DynaMed and VisualDx) need an exact IP address to determine whether someone is a student. Thus, you must connect to the Noorda-Student WiFi network so that you can verify your identity, set up certain softwares, and (overall) have a more stable wireless connection.
WELLNESS
Never get FOMO. Join the Wellness eNCOMpass page for details and reminders about wellness events you won’t want to miss!
CLINICAL AFFAIRS
Clinical Affairs office hours begin tomorrow, August 2, and are every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1–2 p.m. in the main room of building 1. For questions about…
Third/fourth year calendars, researching residencies, or application process(es) and items, visit during office hours
Clinicals (credentialing for research with an outside preceptor; rotations, specialty conferences, CiM, outside healthcare affiliations, etc.), email clined@noordacom.org
Immunizations or EXXAT issues, email studenthealth@noordacom.org
FACILITIES
Badges will be ready by Wednesday at the latest! In the meantime, make sure you’re parking in delegated Noorda-COM parking (not RMU); cars in the wrong area will be fined.
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Insurance: Waivers are due to HSAC on Sunday, August 31. If you haven’t submitted a waiver or it was denied, contact HSAC immediately. Questions? Contact Cary Beasley.
Tuition and fees: If you haven’t paid your fall 2022 tuition and fees, please read through our catalog for information about late fees, or answers to general questions.
Free therapy: Starting a new school year can be stressful, but we’re here to help! Alex and Marlene offer in-office or virtual therapy resources. [Schedule an Appointment] And don’t forget to take advantage of counseling resources through Student Linc.
Discounted UTA passes: For $59/month, you can get unlimited access to UTA buses; Trax, and the Frontrunner. (You will be charged for the entire year upfront, but it’s prorated for the first month you sign up.) The pass is good through June 30, 2023; contact Cary Beasley with questions. [Request a Pass]
COVID-19 UPDATES
Can I come to school if I’m sick? Does Noorda-COM monitor the spread of COVID-19? What’s the campus vaccination rate? All of these questions and more can be answered through this recent COVID-19 statement.
Additional information and exact policies (on precautions, PPE, vaccines, testing, et.c) can be found in the “Infectious and Environmental Hazards Exposure” policy.
Does Noorda-COM offer antigen testing?
Yes. Rapid antigen tests are available inside the main lobby of Building 1 (Suite 100).
Does Noorda-COM monitor COVID-19 cases?
Noorda-COM has a task force, led by the dean’s and president’s offices, and composed of staff, professors, and students to monitor the regional and local impact of COVID-19.
What’s the campus vaccine rate?
>95% of campus (faculty, staff, and students) is vaccinated.
What should I do if I’m sick?
If you get sick, stay home and scan the back of your badge for instructions on locating testing sites and submitting absence requests.
If you are vaccinated, you must quarantine yourself for seven days. If you aren’t, you must stay in quarantine for ten days. (This begins on the day you first became symptomatic.)
Once you begin to improve (no running fever and off of any pain medication), you still must wear a mask on-campus for another seven (if vaccinated) or ten (unvaccinated) days.
Finally, if you’ve had a COVID infection in the last ten days, are immunocompromised, or have not completed your vaccine series, you must wear a mask indoors and around others.
PROVO, Utah, January 14, 2022 — The Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) Board of Trustees has selected Norman S. Wright, Ph.D., to serve as president and chief executive officer of the college following a national search. Wright has been serving as the institution’s interim president since July 2021 and will assume full-time responsibilities in February.
“The Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine is fortunate to have someone with Dr. Wright’s unique set of skills and experience as its next president,” said Francis Gibson, chair of the board of trustees of the college. “Dr. Wright’s strong business acumen together with his experience within the local community and in higher education will be incredibly valuable as the college continues its path to becoming a leader in medical education in Utah.”
The president is a crucial appointment in the senior executive administration that will lead the college forward in engaging local, regional and national communities in building awareness and support for the osteopathic profession, the school and its medical students as they pursue residency placements.
“I am deeply honored to have been chosen to lead the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine at such a critical time in higher education,” said Wright. “We are at a crossroads where old models no longer meet the needs of today’s digitally savvy students who are curious, capable, and committed to harnessing knowledge for the betterment of their communities. I am excited to work together with the Board, students, faculty, staff, and our community as we transform medical education in the service of our community.”
The board-appointed Presidential Search Committee began the search process in September. The 14-member committee—with representation from faculty, professional staff, administrative support staff, students, the Board of Trustees and the community—recommended two finalists to the Board whose final decision was then ratified by the Noorda Medical School Board.
Wright is the current dean of the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University, a position he has held since 2010. During his time as dean, the business school has added graduate degree programs, raised $75 million in funding for a new facility, added support for women and Latinx students, extended ties with the Utah business community, and systematically helped students put theory into practice through industry consulting projects. Prior to his appointment as dean, Wright held various leadership roles with start-up and young business schools in the Middle East and Africa as well as numerous consultancy projects around the globe.
Wright graduated with honors from Brigham Young University with a degree in economics and a Master of Public Administration degree. He went on to earn Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
About Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Located in Provo, Utah, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) offers an innovative and unique approach to medical education. Noorda-COM provides 21st-century medical students a curricular model blending active, small group learning with advanced laboratory experiences and research opportunities while also emphasizing school and life balance with a commitment to health and wellness. Noorda-COM focuses on preparing future residency-ready physicians committed to providing patient-centered healthcare. Noorda-COM is a private, proprietary institution. An independent governing Board of Trustees oversees Noorda-COM. The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation granted Noorda-COM Pre-Accreditation status in December 2020. For more information, visit noordacom.org.
Final Steel Beam Placed on the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine Academic Building Utah’s newest medical school celebrates construction milestone
PROVO, Utah, December 15, 2021 — The Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) today marked a milestone in the construction of its new academic building in Provo with a traditional “topping off” ceremony celebrating the placement of the final steel beam on the structure.
A gathering of Noorda-COM founders, board members, leadership, students, and benefactors, along with community leaders, medical partners, construction and architect teams, participated in a brief program that culminated with a crane lifting the final steel beam into place. In the days leading up to the event, the beam was signed by hundreds of people with interest in the project, including members of the inaugural class of 90 medical students.
“This is a celebration for us all and would not be possible if it were not for the incredible support and vision of our founders, benefactors, community partners, and dedicated campus leadership,” said Norm Wright, interim president of Noorda-COM. “As I look at the steel frame of this building, it is symbolic of the strength and determination of so many who believe passionately in the impact the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine will have – not only for the medical school and our students, but for this community and state.”
The topping off ceremony is a time-honored tradition in construction projects. It is not only adorned with signatures, but with an evergreen tree and American flag. The symbolism of the evergreen goes back many centuries and is said to represent a safe job well done with no fatalities, good fortune throughout the life of the building, and blessings for the building to stand forever.
Having spent the last 26 years in medical education, Dr. John Dougherty, founding dean and chief academic officer, has envisioned this building and what it will mean for medical education in the future.
“This new building has been designed to be a home for generations of medical students to come who will go on to meet the ever-changing needs of the patients they will serve,” Dougherty said. “In this building, we will transform medical education and provide our student doctors with the tools and resources needed for them to become empathetic and compassionate physicians.”
Estimated at $57 million, the four-story, 140,000-sqare-foot academic building is situated on a 30-acre campus located off I-15 and Lakeview Parkway in South Provo. The building is expected to open in Summer 2023.
About Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Located in Provo, Utah, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) offers an innovative and unique approach to medical education. Noorda-COM provides 21st-century medical students a curricular model blending active, small group learning with advanced laboratory experiences and research opportunities while also emphasizing school and life balance with a commitment to health and wellness. Noorda-COM focuses on preparing future residency-ready physicians committed to providing patient-centered healthcare. Noorda-COM is a private, proprietary institution. An independent governing Board of Trustees oversees Noorda-COM. The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation granted Noorda-COM Pre-Accreditation status in December 2020. For more information, visit noordacom.org.
This new partnership offers a combined degree of Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and MBA between the two institutions, providing Noorda-COM medical students an advantage in the market of healthcare during an exceptional time of growth and change in the industry.
“The partnership between UVU’s Woodbury School of Business and the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine marries two highly innovative institutions of higher education to the benefit of students and the local health care industry,” said Norman Wright, dean of the Woodbury School of Business. “Students armed with this credential will make an important difference in the practice of medicine at a time when the market dynamics of the industry are undergoing significant change.”
According to John Dougherty, Noorda-COM founding dean and chief academic officer, Noorda-COM students can start the DO/MBA program after their first semester of medical school and ultimately graduate with both their medical and MBA degrees.
“This dual degree program is a significant offering that will greatly enhance our students’ professional abilities,” Dougherty said. “Not only will they be well educated in how to provide medical services, they will also learn the important aspects of navigating the business of medicine regardless of whether they are in private practice or an established healthcare system.”
This new concentration of study offered by the UVU MBA program is available to students enrolled in Noorda-COM’s osteopathic medicine degree program who meet academic and professional requirements.
“Understanding the value and importance of business acumen through the DO/MBA program with UVU is a wonderful complement to Noorda-COM’s innovative progressive curricular offerings,” Dougherty said. “Our goal is to empower students with essential personal and professional skills to meet the healthcare challenges within the communities they serve.”
About Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Located in Provo, Utah, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) offers an innovative and unique medical education approach. Noorda-COM provides 21st-century medical students a curricular model blending active, small group learning with advanced laboratory experiences and research opportunities while also emphasizing school and life balance with a commitment to health and wellness. Noorda-COM focuses on preparing future residency-ready physicians committed to providing patient-centered healthcare. Noorda-COM is a private, proprietary institution. An independent governing Board of Trustees oversees Noorda-COM. The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation granted Noorda-COM Pre-Accreditation status in December 2020. For more information, visit noordacom.org.
About the Woodbury School of Business
The Woodbury School of Business (WSB) is the largest business school in the Utah System of Higher Education and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The WSB supports a variety of engaged-learning projects and programs. The school is distinguished for its focus on student development, entrepreneurship, global involvement, and innovative teaching. In addition to traditional undergraduate courses of study in disciplines ranging from accounting to marketing, the WSB offers an MBA program that includes various fields of study, including management, technology management, finance, marketing, and healthcare administration. Visit the WSB homepage for more information.
About Utah Valley University At Utah Valley University, we believe everyone deserves the transforming benefits of high-quality education — and it needs to be affordable, accessible, and flexible. With opportunities to earn certificates to master’s degrees, our students succeed by gaining real-world experience and developing career-ready skills. As we celebrate the milestone of our 80th anniversary in 2021, we continue to invite people to come as they are — and leave ready and prepared to make a difference in the world. For more, visit uvu.edu or follow us on Instagram or Facebook.
Cory Maloy Maloy PR, for Noorda-COM 801-319-7900 cory@maloypr.com
