Samuel Merritt University Announces New Guaranteed Interview Partnership with Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine, Expanding Pathways for MBS Students
Samuel Merritt University (SMU), a leader in healthcare education for over a century, has launched a new partnership with the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) to help more aspiring physicians take the next step toward medical school.
As part of the collaboration, eligible students from SMU’s Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) program will be guaranteed an interview with OCOM, a growing institution committed to educating physicians who lead with innovation and compassion.
The partnership reinforces SMU’s growing network of Guaranteed Interview Partnerships, which create structured pathways for students pursuing medical education and ultimately strengthen the healthcare workforce serving communities nationwide.
“This collaboration reflects SMU’s dedication to expanding access to healthcare careers and supporting students who are ready to serve,” said Dr. Sathees Chandra, PhD, Dean of the SMU College of Health Sciences. “We are proud to help remove barriers for students who feel called to medicine and provide more opportunities to address urgent physician shortages across the country.”
Located in Winter Garden, Florida, OCOM is part of the Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Global University (KPGU) and is training the next generation of physicians equipped to improve health outcomes across Central Florida and beyond.
“OCOM is going to change healthcare for the region for generations to come,” stated Dr. Robert Hasty, dean and chief academic officer of OCOM. “With an innovative medical school curriculum meticulously crafted by our esteemed faculty, our institution stands at the forefront of modern medical education. The educational journey that awaits our future medical students promises to be transformative. They will enter from esteemed schools like Samuel Merritt University and emerge as highly proficient and caring physicians, expected to contribute to the physician shortage within the Central Florida community.”
This partnership gives students a direct line to medical school training and the support to get there. Together, SMU and OCOM are investing in the future of patient care by investing in the students who will deliver it.
