Joint Statement from Kent State University and the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine

Kent State University and the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (OCPM) issued a statement today acknowledging that their two organizations are making significant progress in talks designed to merge OCPM into Kent State. For OCPM, a merger with a comprehensive research university is part of its strategic plan to take the podiatric school to the next level in teaching and research. Kent State views a merger with the podiatric school as having strategic research and teaching synergies with the university’s health and science departments. There is not a specific timeline for finalizing the talks, but both organizations are highly motivated to quickly complete the necessary due diligence that would bring a full proposal to their boards for final approval.

Founded in 1916, OCPM is the only accredited podiatry school in Ohio. It is one of eight accredited podiatric schools in the United States and is a private, not-for-profit, four-year graduate level medical college, granting the degree of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM). OCPM has graduated more than 5,000 podiatrists. Currently, the school maintains an average four-year total enrollment of 430 students. OCPM annually graduates approximately 110 students with the DPM degree.

# # #

Media Contacts:
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595
Dr. David R. Nicolanti, drn@ocpm.edu, 216-231-3300