Your Journey Into Medicine Starts Here
At the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, (ARCOM), our journey to becoming a compassionate, skilled physician begins with an education grounded in patient-centered care, service and lifelong learning. Located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, ARCOM prepares future physicians to make a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients and communities while helping shape the future of healthcare.
ARCOM graduates achieve a high match rate and pursue residency training in a wide variety of specialties across the United States, taking the next step toward successful careers in medicine.
Discover the DO Difference
Osteopathic medicine takes a whole-person approach to care. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) are fully trained and licensed physicians who practice across all medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties. What further distinguishes their training is Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), a hands-on approach used to diagnose, treat, and support the body’s structure and function.
ARCOM students develop these skills in a dedicated OMM Lab featuring 44 hydraulic tables, with high-definition cameras and monitors to provide close-up views of faculty demonstrations and techniques.
An Innovative Approach to Learning
ARCOM’s innovative helix curriculum integrates biomedical sciences through a systems-based approach, allowing students to continually build upon concepts as they progress through their education.
Hands-on learning continues throughout ARCOM’s 102,000-square-foot facility. In the Center for Clinical Skills, students experience realistic clinical scenarios using 11 technologically advanced manikins, including four pediatric, five adult and two birthing manikins with babies. These structured simulations allow students to make decisions independently and receive expert feedback to strengthen clinical skills and decision-making.
In the Anatomy Lab, students gain hands-on experience studying human anatomy through anatomical donors. The lab features 21 downdraft donor tables and technology that provides close-up views of faculty instruction and demonstrations.
ARCOM students further develop examination, communication, and diagnostic skills through encounters with standardized patients, trained actors from the community who portray patients in realistic clinical scenarios. Ten exam rooms and a dedicated waiting area help recreate the experience of a clinical setting.
Research Beyond the Classroom
ARCOM students receive formal training in research philosophy, ethics, statistics, and clinical practice research. Our state-of-the-art biomedical and clinical research facilities provide additional opportunities to participate in research, collaborate with faculty and physicians, and contribute to work designed to advance scientific discovery and improve health outcomes.
Make Fort Smith Home
For students relocating to Fort Smith, ARCOM offers convenient on-campus housing. The Residents, located adjacent to campus, offers apartments and townhomes, while The Village at Heritage combines residential living with restaurants, walking trails, fitness, and recreational amenities.
Our pet-friendly campus is within walking distance of nearby destinations, including a grocery store, and offers easy access to plenty of opportunities to explore “The Natural State.”
Your journey into medicine starts here. Discover what’s possible at ARCOM!