Kansas Health Science University (KHSU) will celebrate a major milestone this Saturday, May 9, when it hosts commencement for the inaugural class of its Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KansasCOM). The first osteopathic medical school in Kansas, KansasCOM will graduate 75 new physicians at this landmark ceremony.
“This moment marks not just the culmination of our students’ extraordinary hard work, but the fulfillment of a promise this institution made to the communities we serve. Our inaugural graduates carry with them not only the knowledge and skills to treat patients, but the values that will define their careers for decades to come,” said Kimberly Long, Ph.D., interim president of KHSU.
In March, KansasCOM’s inaugural class achieved a 97.3% match rate, outpacing the national average of 93.2% for DO students. Seventy-three out of 75 students matched into residency programs that cover 13 specialties in 31 states across the nation. Over half of the graduating class matched into primary care residencies and 42% are attending residencies in the Midwest.
“KansasCOM’s inaugural class has set the standard for every class that follows, and we are honored to send these graduates into the world as practitioners, leaders and pioneers. We could not be more honored to call them our alumni,” said Eric Gish, DO, dean of KansasCOM.
KansasCOM was established in 2019 by KHSU and The Community Solution Education System to address the shortage of health care professionals across Kansas, including an estimated shortage of 700 physicians. KansasCOM trains physicians to practice where they’re needed most, in sparsely populated counties, towns and underserved urban neighborhoods throughout Kansas. Through its Wichita-based college and community-based training rotations, KHSU prepares health care professionals to deliver patient-centered care addressing an aging population and economically disadvantaged residents in rural and urban settings.
“The founding vision for The Community Solution Education System included having a medical school as part of our nonprofit system of colleges and universities working together as one community,” said Michael Horowitz, Ph.D., chancellor of The Community Solution Education System. “Today, seeing the result of the work from across the System to build and develop this school, is a full-circle moment and something we are incredibly proud of as we send 75 new physicians out in the world to make an impact on their communities.”
KansasCOM’s commencement is a ticketed event that will take place Saturday, May 9, 2026. The ceremony will feature a presentation of colors led by Wichita South High School JROTC, a commissioning of military officers, a recitation of the osteopathic oath, and an address to the graduates by Richard R. Thacker, DO, MACOI, president-elect of the American Osteopathic Association. KansasCOM’s 2026 commencement will stream live on YouTube.