Published August 26, 2026

CAPTION: (L-R) VCOM-Louisiana Dean Ray Morrison, DO, DFACOS; VCOM President Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP; ULM President Carrie L. Castille, PhD

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The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)-Louisiana and the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) have strengthened their longstanding partnership through a new Preferred Admission Track agreement. The agreement establishes a structured pathway that provides early support for highly qualified ULM students who demonstrate academic excellence and a desire to make a meaningful impact in their communities, offering a clear path to medical school at VCOM-Louisiana.

By helping talented students pursue medical education close to home, the agreement strengthens Louisiana’s future healthcare workforce and reinforces both institutions’ shared commitment to improving health outcomes across the state.

Under the agreement, qualified ULM students may apply for the Preferred Admission Track after completing their sophomore year. Students accepted into the program must demonstrate strong academic achievement, maintain rigorous academic standards throughout their undergraduate studies, and engage in community service and healthcare-related experiences. To be eligible, students must meet all technical and general admission requirements, complete a set of required prerequisite courses, and maintain an overall science and cumulative GPA of 3.7. In addition, the new agreement allows ULM pre-med students who have achieved a 3.7 GPA in the appropriate courses at ULM to waive VCOM’s MCAT requirement. Students with a GPA above 3.4 who are recommended by the school will have the opportunity to interview, though the MCAT requirement remains. 

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, president of VCOM, shared, “This pathway builds on a relationship that has existed since the VCOM-Louisiana campus was established in 2018. Located on ULM’s campus in Monroe, the two institutions have developed a collaborative partnership that supports educational innovation to improve healthcare throughout the region.”  

As Louisiana’s only public university with schools of pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and kinesiology, as well as other health sciences programs, ULM offers a rich environment for interdisciplinary learning. Likewise, as Louisiana’s first and only osteopathic medical college, VCOM-Louisiana provides a distinctive pathway to physician education while advancing its mission to improve healthcare access in rural and medically underserved communities. Students from both institutions regularly participate in collaborative interprofessional education experiences that bring together students from multiple disciplines to strengthen communication, teamwork, and patient-centered skills. The Colleges also share research opportunities and other educational collaborations that enhance student learning and professional development.

Kaleb Underwood, VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2029, a ULM alumnus from West Monroe, completed a bachelor’s degree in biology with dual minors in chemistry and psychology. He shared, “With VCOM on ULM’s campus, I saw the opportunity to stay a little closer to home and maintain my sense of family, not only with my personal family but also with my ULM family, with all the people I have grown up and matured with over the past four years. Keeping those bonds meant more to me than I thought it would.” For ULM students, the partnership represents natural progression, building on years of collaboration between ULM and VCOM-Louisiana.

"We have already enjoyed a strong partnership with VCOM-Louisiana, and this agreement only makes it stronger," said ULM president Carrie L. Castille, PhD. "This new agreement provides a clear path for ULM students to follow their dreams of becoming doctors and get a world-class education without leaving Monroe. We are proud that this agreement is the next step in building our healthcare workforce and helping provide Louisiana's citizens with the care they need." 

The initiative also supports VCOM-Louisiana’s mission to prepare physicians for rural and medically underserved communities. Louisiana continues to face significant healthcare workforce challenges, particularly in primary care and underserved areas, underscoring the need to develop and retain future physicians committed to serving local communities.

“This agreement will strengthen the mission focus of VCOM to supply the needs of rural Louisiana and beyond. The pathway will continue to address Louisiana’s need for a strong physician workforce,” said Ray Morrison, DO, DFACOS, dean for the VCOM-Louisiana campus.

The Preferred Admission Track Agreement will take effect for eligible ULM students during the 2026-2027 academic year. By establishing a clear pathway from undergraduate education to medical school, VCOM and ULM hope to encourage more Louisiana students to pursue careers in medicine and ultimately serve the healthcare needs of the state and region.