In the United States, fewer than 10 Catholic and liberal arts colleges have a medical program.
Benedictine College plans to join the group with the opening of its School of Osteopathic Medicine. The school will enroll 180 students each year, offering training in osteopathic medicine that emphasizes scientific excellence and service to communities in need.
Administrators said 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 DePolo Golden, emergency physician, medical educator, and 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.”
Additionally, 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 said 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 was excited about the school’s future.
“I look forward to welcoming the first applications and watching the inaugural class begin its journey,” she said.
Dean Tulipana also emphasized the broader vision of extending Benedictine’s mission into healthcare nationwide.
However, 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.
Presently, Dean Golden is preparing to hire faculty, starting with an associate dean of pre-clinical curriculum to lead the basic sciences program. Tulipana is securing hospital and clinic partnerships where students will complete their rotations, ensuring a robust hands-on education.
To keep the community connected, the medical school team will share updates, including short videos and announcements, on the college website every few weeks. Students, faculty, and alumni are encouraged to check the site regularly, and visitors are welcome to stop by the medical school offices on the top floor of Cray Seaburg Hall to meet the team.
For local residents, the medical school represents not just an expansion of education but a renewed sense of opportunity. Administrators are hoping the new school will welcome its first students in 2028—marking a historic step for the college, strengthening healthcare in the region, and training a generation of physicians prepared to serve with skill, integrity, and purpose.
Timeline at a Glance:
2025 ongoing
- Secure hospital and clinic partnerships
2026
- Begin building restoration (estimated for Fall 2026)
- Apply for Candidate status
- Hire key faculty
2027
- Preliminary Accreditation
2028
- Admit the first class of 180 students
2030
- Clinical rotation experiences
2032
- Graduating first class/first residencies
