FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- The Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine hosted an open house Sunday (Aug. 21) to give the community a look at the new school.
Residents were able to tour the new facility following a dedication ceremony and were also treated to entertainment, free food and giveaways.
"We are thrilled for the community to tour our building and meet our faculty and staff," Executive Director of Community Relations for Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Susan Devero said.
The college will have 150 students per class for the first year and 300 students the second year. After that it plans to average around 340-350 students per year.
"Our doctors that we're going to bring out of here is 150 doctors a year, most of which are going to stay right in this region and begin to practice medicine here," said Kyle Parker, president of Arkansas Colleges of health education. "So it's going to be a tremendous benefit to all the people within this region and throughout the state of Arkansas."
The new building cost $32.4 million to construct. The 102,000-square-foot facility features state-of-the-art technology in its two 200 person auditoriums, 80 person classroom, learning resource center, simulation lab, 10 standardized patient rooms, anatomy labs and an Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine lab.
“The Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine is proud to be able to open the school to the public," Dean Dr. Kenneth Heiles said. "This is a way to thank the community for the support they have given us over the past two years. We look forward to the inaugural class, beginning in August 2017. In conjunction with the community, we can work together to improve the health and lives of the residents of the River Valley.”