Board of Directors Greenlights Major Milestone in Proposed Benedictine College School of Osteopathic Medicine
The Board of Directors of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas unanimously approved a major milestone in the proposed Benedictine College School of Osteopathic Medicine during a special meeting on May 22, 2026. The college is now pleased to announce that it raised the funds required to submit for Candidate Status with the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and the application has been filed. Notification of status may occur as early as September 2026, allowing for progression to the next step of applying for Pre-Accreditation Status.
“This is the big moment that many people have been waiting for,” said Benedictine College President Stephen D. Minnis. “We are so grateful for those who made this possible, especially our benefactors, including those on our board of directors. Our next task is to finish this proposed medical school that will imitate Christ the teacher and the healer. We know that some benefactors already contributed and others have waited for this momentum before expressing their own generosity to the college.”
Mike Kuckelman, Chair of the Board of Benedictine College, who presided over the special meeting, called the vote “historical” and compared it to other major decisions in the school’s 168-year history.
“This is a great moment when Benedictine College sees the need for rural health care and is stepping forward to educate physicians to fill the gap in delivering faithfully Catholic, high-quality medical care,” he said.
Marla D. Golden, DO, dean of the proposed Benedictine College School of Osteopathic Medicine, led the effort to complete the application, a process which involved extensive planning of every aspect of the proposed medical school.
“The last few months have been a lot of work, but the reward will be worth the effort,” Golden said. “It was exciting to see so many colleagues work together on this application, which requires the integration of a school within a school and a comprehensive analysis of every aspect of the proposed medical school.”
The college continues to move forward with this important initiative, the first proposed medical school at a college recommended by the National Catholic Register and the Newman Guide. The proposed Benedictine College School of Osteopathic Medicine would provide an education faithful to the Catholic Church’s bioethical teachings, and train doctors ready to serve those most in need, in Catholic hospitals and in rural areas where health care providers are scarce.
The interest in supporting a medical school comes from the college’s strategic plan, “Transform Culture in America,” which states: “STEM education is a particular emphasis of Benedictine College” and calls for the school “to advance the mission through science and health care.”
The college has been stressing its STEM character for more than 15 years. Benedictine already offers four ABET-accredited engineering disciplines and Benedictine’s School of Nursing has been named the Best in Kansas. The college’s newest academic building is Westerman Hall, a 100,000-square-foot STEM facility with classrooms and labs for Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics.
Deacon Stan Sluder, Executive Vice President of Benedictine College, is charged with the task of bringing the proposed medical school to fruition. He said, “Rooted in our Benedictine tradition, the Benedictine College School of Osteopathic Medicine will form physicians who honor the infinite dignity of every human person, embrace authentic Catholic bioethics, serve God by serving the sick and suffering, and commit themselves to true personal formation — so that they may provide excellent, compassionate, whole-person care.”
Abbot James Albers, of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison, Kansas, and a member of the Board of Directors of Benedictine College said, “This medical school is an important expression of the Rule of St. Benedict, which tells us that ‘Care of the sick must rank above and before all else.’ This new effort is close to the heart of the monks of the Abbey, and we warmly support this initiative.”
Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas. The school is honored to have been named in the Top 10 of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report as well as one of the 10 “most recommended” colleges in the nation by the Wall Street Journal. It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging. It has a mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.
The proposed Benedictine College School of Osteopathic Medicine will align with this mission and uphold the standards of Benedictine College educating men and women in a community of faith and scholarship to become osteopathic physicians who will ‘listen with the ear of the heart’ to provide compassionate, Christ-centered care to those in need.
Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas. The school is honored to have received a top 10 ranking by U.S. News & World Report, to be ranked in the nation’s 10 most-recommended by The Wall Street Journal, and named one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by the Newman Guide. It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging. Benedictine College is dedicated to Transforming Culture in America through its mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.
