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LAS CRUCES Construction began this week on the $105 million Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arrowhead Research Park on the campus of New Mexico State University.

The private medical school will be the first in Las Cruces, and only the second medical school in the state. It will also be the states only school devoted to osteopathy.

Schools of osteopathic medicine are similar to traditional medical schools, graduating doctors who can practice medicine, prescribe medications and perform surgery, like medical doctors, according to the National Institutes of Health. Doctors of osteopathic medicine, however, spend additional time studying the bodys musculoskeletal system, according to NIH.

Everything is going according to plan, according to John Hummer, executive board member and the schools CEO.

On Monday, excavation and grading began, said Hummer. Were looking to begin vertical construction in April, and will have a ceremonial event to coincide with that. It will also coincide with the next step in our accreditation, as we apply for provisional accreditation.

Burrell College will be a freestanding, privately funded, separately licensed and independently operated entity. No taxpayer dollars will go toward its construction or operation, officials have said.

Dr. George Mychaskiw, an Orlando-based pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist who will be BCOMs dean, said he believes the school will begin student applications in May, pending provisional accreditation.

We plan on beginning the application process in May for the schools first students, to begin in the fall 2016 semester, said Mychaskiw. The school will serve 150 students in its first year, adding students each year to reach the planned 1,200 total.

More here:

First medical school on NMSU campus moving forward