The college aims to prepare students to become osteopathic physicians, pharmacy practitioners, and dentists through programs of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and community service to enhance the quality of life through improved health for all humanity.

Exceptional Educational Facilities

Founded in 1992, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is a private, non-profit graduate school which offers exemplary academic programs in the field of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy. LECOM’s main campus is located in Erie, Pennsylvania, and its campuses are located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Bradenton, Florida. The College is the core of LECOM Health, a highly innovative medical education system that includes two hospitals, two skilled nursing centers, 74 clinical practices and a medical fitness and wellness center.

The college offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree at three campuses and the Doctor of Pharmacy degree on two campuses. The Doctor of Dental Medicine degree begins at the Bradenton campus and fourth-year dental students complete their degrees by training at two community-based dental practice sites, one in Florida and the other in Pennsylvania.

LECOM also offers the Primary Care Scholars Pathway (PCSP) designed to attract more students to primary care, including internal medicine and family medicine, by condensing four years of medical education into three years. The Accelerated Physician Assistant Pathway (APAP) also allows Certified Physician Assistants (PA-C) to earn a DO degree in three years. APAP is available at the Erie and Greensburg campuses.

About the President of LECOM

John M. Ferretti, D.O. is the President and CEO of LECOM. He also serves as President of LECOM Health. His leadership at Millcreek Community Hospital was instrumental in founding the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1992. He saw a growing need for new physicians like Erie, Pennsylvania and decided the best way to find those doctors was to open a new medical school. As early as 1996, Dr. Ferretti and the LECOM Trustees already had a vision of a growing health professional college that would grow in size, add new programs and eventually become an academic health center that it is today.

Accomplished Alumni

The institute has produced numerous graduates who have made it big in various walks of life. Some of the notable alumni of LECOM include: Brian Kessler, D.O., a member of the LECOM Class of 1998, dean of a college of osteopathic medicine; Louise Del Negro, D.O., Class of 2003, received the Joint Civilian Commendation Medal from the United States Army for her work treating wounded service personnel; and Arpit Mehta, Pharm. D., Class of 2012, director of pharmacy at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine offers one of the lowest tuitions and fees amongst the private medical colleges in the country as it maintains the highest quality of education.

LECOM’s financial aid staff works with LECOM students to help them make the right decisions for meeting the cost of education. The Office of Financial Aid at LECOM provides counseling and assistance to eligible students in securing funds to help finance their education through financial aid and scholarships. In addition to financial aid, the college raises scholarship funds through various projects and raises about $4 million dollars annually to support its students’ education.

Career Opportunities and Exposures

LECOM has developed clinical education teaching agreements with more than 100 hospitals and clinics where more than 1,600 adjunct faculty members train LECOM students. The college has seven regional campuses in New York, Pennsylvania, and California for clinical rotations. Research is a key part of the LECOM mission to prepare well-qualified healthcare professionals. To meet the educational goals of research, the college provides laboratory space and encourages research by faculty members and students. Faculty members and students have participated in international medical service and education. LECOM encourages student involvement and leadership in community service activities. Programs such as Bridging the Gaps and Safe Kids Erie take students out of the classroom to underserved clinics and community agencies.

Words of Trust

“LECOM promotes community outreach, and my roots in service were easily attracted to a school that values bettering its community.  LECOM also focuses on education first. The LECOM faculty truly cares about each student, and does their best to help in any way they can.” – Alanna Grafius, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2021.

“LECOM teaches the osteopathic philosophy where the patient comes first, that our own bodies could be used to heal ourselves, that maybe our first step is not to write a prescription but to understand each individual and what they actually need from us as physicians.” – Hannah Mirzakhani, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2018.