Lynsey Drew
Dean & Chief Academic Officer | Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
As Dean of Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM), you achieved a remarkable 99 percent residency placement rate for your inaugural graduating class. What specific strategies did you implement to achieve this outcome for a brand-new medical school?
From day one, my goal was to get the right people in the right roles and then make sure they had the tools, training, and support they needed to serve our students well. … One of the most impactful things we did was prioritize individual meetings with every student. We wanted to make sure they had personal guidance and were ready to approach the application process with both confidence and clarity. This helped them understand their strengths and weaknesses and make smart, informed choices that increased their chances of matching. That said, I also give a huge amount of credit to the students themselves. They worked hard, asked great questions, and advocated for themselves every step of the way.
What initiatives have proven most effective in expanding residency programs in Utah, and what challenges remain?
At Noorda-COM, under the leadership of our founding dean, we were instrumental in helping pass legislation that created state funding to support the development of new graduate medical education (GME) programs. … Since then, I’ve continued to advocate at the Utah State Legislature each year, pushing for policy solutions that expand GME and support our growing physician workforce. I’ve also had the opportunity to advocate nationally for medical education funding and for parity in residency access for doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), which is still a pressing issue. … We’re also actively engaged with the Health Workforce Advisory Council, where we’re exploring ways to better engage preceptors and expand clinical education throughout Utah.
How do you balance maintaining rigorous academic standards with providing individualized support for students?
Honestly, this is one of the hardest parts of my job. … We hold our standards high because the profession demands it. At the same time, we know that every student brings their own story, their own struggles and their own growth curve. ... Through our foundation, we created the Noorda Cares Fund, which helps students who are facing short-term financial crises. Whether it’s an unexpected car repair, a medical bill, or something else that threatens their stability, we want them to know they’re not alone. That same fund also supports Gnome Noms, our on-campus food pantry, which helps fill the gaps when students need just a little extra to get by.
What innovations are you implementing to distinguish Noorda-COM?
At Noorda-COM, we are not just repeating what has always been done. We are building something new, on purpose. One of the most unique things we have done is integrate research as a core part of the program. … We are also early adopters when it comes to integrating ultrasound across all four years of training. … Most importantly, we keep the focus on the people who matter most, the students, and the future patients our students will care for. Everything we do ties back to our mission of creating competent, confident and compassionate physicians. We do not just prepare students to succeed academically. We also expect them to grow into professionals who can connect, lead, and serve. We hold them accountable and support them along the way, because becoming a physician is hard — and it should be — but no one has to do it alone.
