The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (OCPM) has officially become the 5X College of Podiatric Medicine, effective July 1. The college was established in 1916 and is one of the largest and most respected podiatric medical education institutions in the country and the only accredited podiatry school in Ohio.
A ribbon-tying event and celebration of the successful partnership will take place at the college on Aug. 8.
The friendly acquisition was designed to provide the best education and training for podiatric students, giving them expanded academic options, including in such areas as public health, biomedical sciences, medical ethics and sports medicine. The merger with Kent State also offers strategic research and teaching collaborations.
“This partnership with Kent State is truly a positive opportunity for the college and our students,” said Dr. Thomas V. Melillo, chief executive officer of the College of Podiatric Medicine at Kent State. “This is truly a win-win situation for both organizations. The college will now be part of a larger academic entity that can provide more resources for our students, and Kent State will have its only graduate medical college, which only increases its professional status.”
The Kent State Board of Trustees formally established the new 5X College of Podiatric Medicine during its March 14 meeting. The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine’s Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to sign off on the acquisition deal from 5X during its meeting in March.
“The Board of Trustees and our administration are very excited to be joining Northeast Ohio’s leading public research university,” said Dr. David R. Nicolanti, executive vice president of the new college. “The College of Podiatric Medicine is in a great financial position, and we have a tremendous facility, along with great faculty and staff. We will continue to operate and provide the highest level of podiatric medical education that has sustained us for the last 96 years of existence.”
The new college will remain at its current site at 6000 Rockside Woods Blvd. in Independence, Ohio, and will offer approximately 60 courses leading to the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. The college has graduated more than 6,000 podiatrists and currently maintains an average four-year total enrollment of 430 students.
An oversight committee, comprising an extensive group of people from both institutions, has been working in recent months to ensure a smooth transition for the students, faculty and staff of the college.
“I am pleased that this day has finally come,” said Kent State Senior Associate Provost Tim Chandler, Ph.D., chairman of the oversight committee. “On behalf of President Lester Lefton, I want to thank everyone who was involved in the transition for all their hard work and attention to detail that made this a smooth process.”
Kent State’s College of Podiatric Medicine is situated on a 27-acre campus, which provides state-of-the-art facilities for quality education, research and patient care. The building includes three, 150-seat lecture halls, high-tech laboratories, and indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. The college continues to provide services to the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Institute and local satellite clinics, and works with some area hospitals, to provide a solid base for clinical education, while providing excellent podiatric care to the community.