ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine returned to its lecture halls Monday, July 24. The class of 2027 began their first day bright and early with welcome lectures and games.  

“I'm gonna be here for the next four years, looks like, I hope to do most of my rotations around here just because of the ease of travel and such,” said D.O. Student Brian Chegwidden. “I mean, I'm really looking forward getting to know the residents of the area and the area itself and just helping out the community in general.”  

Over the four-year program, students will move between lectures and residency rotations. Dr. Richard Terry, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at LECOM, estimates students to begin hands-on engagement towards the end of their first year.  

“They'll do mock patients,” excitingly shared. Dr. Terry. “They'll work on our history and physical labs on each other and learn basic examination skills, but typically not with real patients until the end of their first year where they'll have an opportunity to engage.”  

Programs for Physicians take a lot of time and require dedication from all of the students. LECOM shared, students typically will go from lectures to individualized or group study sessions. Dr. Terry mentioned students average 8 study hours a day, and up to 70 hours a week. As first-semester syllabuses are distributed, it is time to figure out what is in store for the first few months at LECOM.  

“For the first two months, it looks like there's gonna be, well, we still have bio most of faculty here, a lot of anatomy, which will be taking most of a time, and along with embryology and histology,” said First Year D.O student Samie Syed.  

As technology advances, and impacts all professions, LECOM believes the class of 2027 is entering their medical school journey at an important time.  

“We welcome them all. And I think they're entering medicine at a critical time, a time of change where I think we'll see radical changes in the way that healthcare is delivered,” Dr. Terry concluded.  

When the students graduate in four years, they will be board-certified doctors. LECOM officials say the incoming doctors joining the medical field will also help meet the essential need for medical professionals in Rural Areas, like the Twin Tiers.