March 4, 2008 — Robert Morris University is taking a new tack in expanding student opportunities while growing its emerging pre-med program: Collaborate with medical and chiropractic schools to provide priority admission for students.

The strategy was rolled out Feb. 22 in an agreement between the university, Allegheny General Hospital, and the hospital’s academic partner, Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.

Robert Morris students accepted into the program will complete a preprofessional internship at Allegheny General, receive priority consideration for admission

to medical school at Drexel, then return to the hospital for a clerkship and clinical rotation during the final two years of medical school. Allegheny General is a regional campus for Drexel.

The Allegheny General-Drexel collaboration is among at least two other similar arrangements Robert Morris is developing. One is pending with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, which would reserve 10 places for Robert Morris students; and discussions are underway with the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.