Rocky Vista University

Rocky Vista University provides quality healthcare education while inspiring students to serve with compassion, integrity and excellence.

RVU Vision is “Achieving New Heights in Medical Education”.

RVUCOM Mission Statement is “To educate and inspire students to become highly competent osteopathic physicians and lifelong learners prepared to meet the diverse healthcare needs of tomorrow through innovative education, relevant research, and compassionate service.”

Whether you are a prospective student seeking information regarding our college of osteopathic medicine, a prospective employee, or simply curious about whom we are, we invite you to explore the information contained in our web site to determine whether you might be a good fit for our community.

RVU is a young, dynamic and innovative university that has accomplished great things in a short amount of time. We have developed a curriculum that is leading change in medical education. Our Board scores are among the highest in the nation and we have a 100% residency placement rate for all of our graduating classes including some of the top residency programs in the country. Our curriculum offers specialized tracks in Global, Rural/Wilderness and Military Medicine. In addition, we have recently added an Academic Medicine Physician-Scientist Track for those students who have a strong interest in research.

We are proud of the fact that we have among the highest percentage of students on military scholarship of any civilian medical school in the country. We have partnered with Strategic Operations to pioneer work with the cut suit, a human worn partial task surgical simulator, and have received the designation of being a military friendly school. Our Surgical Simulation Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). We are the only osteopathic medical school and one of only two medical schools in the Mountain West Region to receive this distinction.

Our successes are a result of our dedicated faculty and staff who are passionate about working with a diverse, robust student body. Our mission statement reads: “Rocky Vista University provides quality healthcare education while inspiring students to serve with compassion, integrity and excellence.” These words are more than words stenciled on our walls and printed in our marketing collateral; they are words we live by every day. The commitment to our mission is evident in collaboration rather than competition among all members of the RVU Community – faculty, staff, students, administrators, and members of our Board of Trustees. This sense of family and pride resonates in the halls of RVU.

Compassion, integrity, and a strong service orientation are traits we seek when selecting members of our community, whether it be students, faculty, or staff. We actively seek opportunities to serve our community on the local, national and international level and hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards. We are excited about what we have accomplished and are proud of the achievements of our graduates. Our strategic vision is strong and we look forward to great things to come. If our mission resonates with you, we invite you to contact us to learn more and hope to welcome you into the RVU Community in the future.

The mission of the Office of Research is to provide support for the research activities of the university by providing guidance and opportunities for faculty, staff and students to engage in various research activities that promote advancement in the biomedical and clinical sciences. All areas of research from basic biological research to translational and population-based studies are included. Support for these areas includes statistical consulting, an intramural grant program and a searchable database of extramural grant opportunities.

The Office of Student Financial Services is available to assist students with finding the financial resources needed to achieve their educational goals. While the primary responsibility for meeting educational costs rests with the student, the Office of Student Financial Services can help students bridge the gap between the cost of their education and their own financial resources. The Office of Student Financial Services at RVU is committed to the highest standards of professional conduct. Their goal is to provide information and advice, determined solely by the best interests of our students.

Current students finance their educational costs with a combination of federal and private loans, scholarships, and their own resources. The financial ability of applicants to complete their education at the University is important because of the limited number of positions available in each class. Applicants should have specific plans for financing each year of education, which includes: tuition; fees; living expenses; books; equipment; clinical rotation travel; expenses related to taking COMLEX, USMLE exams, or other professional examinations; and miscellaneous expenses.

The Office of Student Life at RVU designs, develops, and implements various program activities to enhance the quality of campus life by building and strengthening the RVU student doctor community. Program activities include the Peer Mentoring program, leadership development and advisement to the Student Government Association and student clubs/organizations, Student Wellness, and co-curricular activities.