Benedictine College of Atchison, Kansas, advanced plans to open Benedictine College School of Osteopathic Medicine.
This would make Benedictine one of only a few Catholic liberal arts colleges in the nation to operate a medical program. The school will enroll 180 students each year, offering training in osteopathic medicine that emphasizes scientific excellence and service to communities in need.
College leaders say the program is designed to equip physicians who can combine skill with compassion and leadership.
Dr. Kevin Tulipana, physician, bioethicist, Catholic deacon, and associate dean of clinical education, said the school will integrate rigorous medical training with spiritual formation.
“Our students will become clinically excellent physicians,” he said, “but they will also undergo human and ethical formation that will create mission-aligned, service-oriented, compassionate physicians.”
Dr. Marla Golden, founding dean, highlighted the school’s focus on addressing critical healthcare needs.
“Students will essentially be missionaries for Christ in healthcare,” she said. “Hopefully, they will embrace this mission and choose to stay and develop quality healthcare in those areas of need.”
The college plans to restore the long-abandoned Martin East Elementary School on Unity Street and transform it into a modern medical education facility. Golden noted that the project will bring jobs, faculty, staff, and students to Atchison, supporting local economic growth. Tulipana added that having a medical school in the area often encourages hospitals and clinics to expand services, improving care for residents.
Golden expressed excitement about the school’s future.
“I look forward to welcoming the first applications and watching the inaugural class begin its journey,” she said.
Tulipana emphasized the broader vision of extending Benedictine’s mission into healthcare nationwide.
Several key milestones remain before the first class can begin. The school currently holds Applicant status with the Commission of Osteopathic College Accreditation and aims to apply for Candidate status by May 2026.
