Duquesne receives $3M grant for osteopathic medical school

Duquesne University on Wednesday said a new grant will help make its yet-to-bebuilt College of Osteopathic Medicine “state of the art.”

The $3 million grant, a gift from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, will be used to help support construction, provide medical training equipment, such as advanced simulation technologies, augmented reality anatomy labs and maker space, the school said.

Duquesne is planning to launch its newest school, which is being built along Forbes Avenue across from the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, in the fall 2024 semester.

“I want to express our deep appreciation to the Henry L. Hillman Foundation for this important gift, which will prepare our future medical students with the tools and knowledge to provide the highest level of care to patients, including those most in need,” said Ken Gormley, the university’s president, in a statement. “As we’ve seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care doctors play a crucial role in keeping the public safe and healthy. With the help of this key Henry L. Hillman Foundation grant, physicians from our college of medicine will deliver essential help to vulnerable populations, both in urban and rural communities, furthering Duquesne’s long legacy of promoting health equity in this region and elsewhere.”

The College of Osteopathic Medicine is being built, the university said, at “a time when the region and nation face a growing shortage of primary care doctors, and exemplifies Duquesne’s long-standing commitment to promoting equity and opportunity in the region.”

Dr. John Kauffman, the new college’s dean, said of the grant: “This grant will help ensure that our students receive exceptional training that will prepare them to provide compassionate, holistic care to underserved communities in Pittsburgh and beyond. With Duquesne’s expertise in nursing, pharmacy, health sciences and other disciplines, we are well positioned to educate the next generation of physicians.”