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The Community Solution Education System has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Camosun College opening opportunities to develop academic pathways for Camosun students to all six institutions within the nonprofit system.

“The Community Solution was founded with the belief that cooperation among colleges and universities benefits both students and institutions,” said Michael Horowitz, Ph.D., chancellor of The Community Solution Education System. “This partnership with Camosun bridges educational opportunities internationally, allowing students to advance their professional goals and contribute to their communities in a meaningful way.”  

The first of these is a formalized pathway for Camosun kinesiology students to access the Doctor of Chiropractic program at University of Western States (UWS).

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Camosun to develop pathways for students to further explore the field of chiropractic care,” said Nathan Long, Ed.D., president of UWS. “This partnership showcases our shared commitment to advancing whole-person health both in the U.S. and in Canada. As a proud member of The Community Solution Education System, we understand the critical role strategic relationships like this have in the advancement of student success and community impact. I look forward to seeing the relationship between UWS and Camosun blossom.”

The MoU will help establish a pathway for undergraduates to further their studies in chiropractic health care. The agreement creates a framework of benefits and collaborative offerings including the exchange of materials, joint research agendas and collection of data, and access to interdisciplinary grant opportunities. Additionally, Camosun kinesiology students enrolling in the chiropractic doctoral program at UWS are eligible to receive transfer credits for three courses (8.5 credits). 

“We’re pleased to partner with The Community Solution to promote academic cooperation and provide opportunities for further education for Camosun College students,” said Carly Hall, Dean of Health Sciences and Human Service at Camosun College.

The Bachelor of Kinesiology program at Camosun is a four-year applied degree program that prepares students with the knowledge and skills to work in the fields of exercise physiology, kinesiology, exercise therapy, fitness, high-performance sport, adapted physical activity, health and community recreation. The UWS Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program is a rigorous, 12-quarter doctoral program designed to be completed in three years. Students learn from experienced faculty with practice experience and clinical training at the UWS campus in Portland, Ore. The UWS DC program qualifies graduates with the coursework required for licensure in the U.S. and Canada.

Rooted in its legacy of social impact and advocacy, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School has served as a pillar of the Pasadena community. By prioritizing service beyond the classroom, Pacific Oaks ensures its values translate to meaningful action.

So, when devastating wildfires swept through Southern California, displacing families and disrupting communities, the Pacific Oaks community got to work doing what they do best: supporting each other. Working closely with local organizations, the college quickly mobilized resources and aligned its efforts with the community’s most pressing needs to transform its campus into a hub of support offering essential supplies, gathering space, and connection to recovery resources.

“At Pacific Oaks, we believe in the power of community and the importance of lifting each other up in times of crisis,” said Breeda McGrath, Ph.D., president of Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School. “We are honored to stand alongside our partners and neighbors as we work toward recovery, so that no one has to face these challenges alone.”

Providing Essential Supplies to Childcare Providers

Pacific Oaks’ foundation in early childhood education uniquely equipped it to address one of the most urgent challenges brought on by the wildfires: the disruption of childcare services. Understanding that safe, accessible childcare is a cornerstone of community recovery, the college quickly established the Early Childhood Education Supplies Distribution Center, an initiative that provides educators, childcare providers, and families with what they need to continue caring for children despite the disaster.

In collaboration with The County of Los Angeles Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education, Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles, and Options for Learning, Pacific Oaks facilitated the distribution of thousands of essential supplies. Air purifiers, masks, diapers, sanitation products, and other crucial resources were delivered to help mitigate the impact of poor air quality and other wildfire-related challenges. To date, more than 1,200 individuals and families have benefitted from these efforts.

What began as an immediate response on January 30 has now evolved into an ongoing initiative due to overwhelming demand and positive feedback. With continued support from organizations like the Department of Public Health and Baby2Baby, Pacific Oaks is ensuring that families and childcare providers receive constant assistance in the wake of this crisis.

Connecting Families to Legal and Financial Resources

Beyond immediate material needs, the college has transformed its campus into a resource hub where families and childcare providers can connect directly with experts from Options for Learning, the California Department of Social Services, and the Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles, ensuring direct access to guidance and support.

Pacific Oaks has also opened its doors to organizations offering legal and financial recovery services to those affected by wildfires. In partnership with the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC), the college has donated space for ongoing free legal aid workshops. These sessions cover vital topics such as insurance claims, tenant rights, and rebuilding challenges, equipping attendees with the knowledge and resources they need to advocate for themselves.

Recognizing the diverse backgrounds of those affected, the college has also hosted bilingual workshops led by the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) of Los Angeles County, making information on grants, loans, and other financial relief programs accessible to all. Additionally, Pacific Oaks has offered campus space for FEMA Advice and Appeals Clinics, offering one-on-one guidance to those struggling with disaster relief applications and appeals.

A Community United in Recovery

As Southern California rebuilds, Pacific Oaks College remains steadfast in its mission to uplift and empower those in need. Whether through advocacy, resources, or direct support, the college will continue to stand alongside families, educators, and local leaders.

Michele Nealon, Psy.D., president of The Chicago School, recently spoke with Crain’s Chicago Business about the university’s plan to open a college of osteopathic medicine. The proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine (IllinoisCOM) will be committed to training future osteopathic physicians to provide individualized care rooted in the connection between mental and physical well-being. The article originally appeared in Crain’s Chicago Business.

The Chicago School, which has been training psychologists since 1979, wants to drive the integration of physical and mental health by opening an osteopathic school of medicine to train new DOs.

Osteopaths, known for a holistic approach to medicine, are the perfect physicians to train in a more “whole body” approach that combines mental health with primary care, said Chicago School President Dr. Michele Nealon.

The proposed new Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at The Chicago School is in the process of gaining accreditation and hopes to enroll its first class of 85 students by fall of 2026.

Eventually the school would serve 680 students annually, with graduating classes of 170 new doctors of osteopathic medicine each year, beginning with the class of 2032, Nealon said.

In the meantime, the school is hiring staff and building out its programs, anticipating a 90-person faculty and staff when classes start in 2026, she said.

Nealon said the economic impact of that 90 new employees, classrooms and students would be around 83.4 million annually, with some 464 direct and indirect jobs created.

“We’ve been talking about this for a long time,” The Chicago School graduate said, because the health care workforce faces severe shortages, and the practice of primary care needs to align better with mental health care.

Nealon point to the desperate need for more doctors, with estimates that the United States will face a shortage of physicians of between 37,800 and 124,000 by 2034.

The general physician shortage, combined with a dramatic shortage of mental health professionals, means patients are coming first to primary care physicians to address mental health issues.

“It’s urgent that we identify and manage mental health within the context of physical health care,” she said.

“It’s an interconnected challenge,” Nealon said, “which makes our model so unique.”

The curriculum at the new school would emphasize the interconnected nature of physical and mental health, and with partnerships with providers around Chicago, and Chicago School locations in the city, Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington, D.C., students will have exposure to and rotations with experts in wide variety of places and disciplines.

Nealon said DOs practice in the full range of specialties, but often concentrate on primary care. The integration of psychology and medicine is particularly appropriate with these doctors, as DOs focus on the body, mind and emotions, along with physical manipulation and adjustments for patients, she said.

The Chicago School, with more than 40 graduate, undergraduate and certificate programs, has a current Chicago enrollment of nearly 1,200. Nealon said they will be building state-of-the-art new facilities for the osteopathic school.

Nealon would not comment on specific plans for a location of the school, but Crain’s reported recently that the nonprofit university is close to finalizing a deal to purchase the vacant former Tyson Foods building.

Nealon said in addition to growing the workforce and integrating disciplines, The Chicago School has an “unwavering commitment” to diversity, equity and inclusion and community service.

The Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine Now Recruiting for Inaugural Class to Begin August 2022

December 13, CHICAGO and WICHITA – TCS Education System, a Chicago-based nonprofit system of colleges that work collaboratively to advance institutional sustainability, student success, and community impact, announced today the Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSC-KansasCOM) has received pre-accreditation status from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and is now recruiting students for its inaugural class to begin August 2022.

The product of a collaborative partnership between TCS, KHSC and Wichita’s Riverside Health Foundation, KHSC-KansasCOM will be the state’s first private, nonprofit college of osteopathic medicine and is expected to create $1 billion in economic impact over the next 12 years in a region where nearly one-third of the population is medically unserved. Local physicians who have joined the faculty will lead a patient-centered approach to deliver an engaging, modern learning experience in August 2022.

“TCS was founded on the idea that fostering student excellence starts by supporting critical institutional functions,” says Michael Horowitz, Ph.D., president and founder of TCS Education System. “This endorsement from COCA underscores our commitment to success across our System. We are thrilled to bring our proven model of institutional excellence to KHSC-KansasCOM and look forward to working closely with the experienced administrators and faculty, as they educate the next generation of osteopathic physicians.”

KHSC-KansasCOM will prepare up to 85 physicians-in-training in the first cohort through an integrated curriculum that includes training in advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, and early clinical experiences. KansasCOM will be eligible for full accreditation following the inaugural graduation in 2026.

“In today’s healthcare landscape, innovation is desperately needed,” says Vadim Levitin, chair of the KHSC Board of Trustees. “This new college will take cutting-edge medical education from Wichita directly to the rural hospitals and clinics who could benefit from additional support, through clinical rotations across the state and beyond.”

Based in the heart of downtown Wichita, KHSC-KansasCOM’s 116,000 square foot campus will feature innovative learning spaces, an osteopathic skills training center, standardized patient teaching rooms, large lecture halls, small group study rooms, a virtual anatomy lab, and much more.

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About TCS Education System:

TCS Education System (TCS) is an integrated, nonprofit system that works collaboratively to advance institutional sustainability, student success, and community impact. Founded in 2009, the System consists of six distinct communities—The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School, The Colleges of Law, Saybrook University, Kansas Health Science Center, and the TCS System Office. TCS utilizes strategic partnerships in order to foster economies of scale, academic innovation, risk mitigation, and resourceful business solutions, in order to maximize the educational experience of students. To learn more, visit www.tcsedsystem.edu.

About Kansas Health Science Center:

Kansas Health Science Center is a nonprofit organization committed to developing strong, innovative education programs in emerging areas of health care. Opening the Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2022, KHSC strives to positively impact the health landscape in Wichita and the state of Kansas through directly addressing the disparity in access to healthcare. Learn more.

The proposed Kansas Health Science Center – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, whose mission is to train the osteopathic physician of the future to provide effective, empathic, and innovative care, has been granted candidate status by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

Chicago, Illinois – Dec. 3, 2020 – Nonprofit TCS Education System (TCS) is proud to announce its affiliate institution, Kansas Health Science Center (KHSC), located in Wichita, Kansas, has been granted candidate status for the proposed KHSC—Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KHSC – KansasCOM) by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

“We extend our congratulations to Kansas Health Science Center and its team, led by President Tiffany Masson, Psy.D., and Dean Joel Dickerman, DO, for advancing the proposed KHSC – KansasCOM to candidate status,” says TCS Education System President Michael Horowitz, Ph.D. “This achievement is a testament to KHSC’s leadership and commitment to supporting the local community by building an osteopathic medical school for the next generation of compassionate and innovative physicians. Through our strategic partnership model, we look forward to continuing to support KHSC in their efforts to make a lasting impact on the health care landscape in Kansas.”

The proposed KHSC—KansasCOM will be the first college within TCS Education System to help fill the need for more competent and compassionate leaders in the osteopathic medical field. 

“Core to our vision has always been to partner with and support colleges and universities that focus on the most fundamental areas of human need—education, legal representation, and health care, both physical and mental,” says TCS Board of Trustees Chairman R. Edward Bergmark, Ph.D. “This partnership with Kansas Health Science Center has allowed us the opportunity to help meet a growing need in health care. We are very excited for the future.”

Currently under construction with plans to open in 2022, the proposed KHSC – KansasCOM campus will include an osteopathic skills training center, standardized patient teaching rooms, large lecture halls, small group study rooms, a virtual anatomy lab, and much more. The patient-centered, community-based curriculum will emphasize a whole-person approach to treatment and care.

“In large part because of the support we have received from TCS Education System, I know Kansas Health Science Center is well positioned to build an innovative osteopathic medical school that will positively impact the health care landscape in Kansas and beyond,” says KHSC President Tiffany Masson, Psy.D.

About TCS Education System

TCS Education System (TCS) is a nonprofit system of colleges that was launched in 2009 to advance student success and community impact. Currently, the System spans five colleges, campus locations across 12 cities and a community of more than 30 global academic partners to fulfill the aspirations of approximately 10,000 students. The TCS model provides its colleges with a number of strategic resources, including admissions and enrollment operations, finance and accounting, information and learning technology, marketing, strategic planning, compliance and legal services, human resources, and global engagement among other areas of professional expertise. The System was founded on the belief that by sharing administrative resources and allowing colleges to concentrate on providing students with quality, social change-focused education, it can give each member of its collective community the power to change the world. TCS colleges include The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, Saybrook University, and Kansas Health Science Center. To learn more, visit www.tcsedsystem.edu.

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