Medical school in Meridian welcomes latest class of more than 200 students

Idaho’s need for qualified medical staff is no secret to anyone following the news. The state has consistently been ranked 50th in the U.S. for physicians per capita.

Looking to fill the need, health providers and educators within the state have been working in conjunction to produce more physicians, nurses and others. One such example is the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) in Meridian.

The school recently welcomed its latest cohort, the first since it expanded its class size, who will graduate in 2029. The group of 226 students includes 30 from Idaho. It is the eighth cohort at ICOM since its inception in 2016 and includes not only Idahoans, but students from 30 other states coming from 119 colleges and universities.

“This is an exciting and important time and season for the college,” said Dr. Tracy J. Farnsworth, president of ICOM. “By expanding our class size, we are answering the call to help meet the growing need for physicians in Idaho and across the nation, especially in rural and underserved areas.”

According to ICOM, its increase in class size “reflects a strategic effort to help the state’s physician shortage. Idaho currently ranks 50th in the nation for physicians per capita and 49th for active primary physicians.”

The school has also expanded its facilities, beefed up its curriculum and increased the number of faculty and support for the increased number of students, making it “well-positioned to provide the same high-quality education” as its student body increases. Though there are more students, the school stated that it is still maintains a “close-knit” community.

ICOM began its 2025-2026 school year July 28.