ATSU Information

Mission Statement

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences serves as a learning-centered university dedicated to preparing highly competent professionals through innovative academic programs with a commitment to continue its osteopathic heritage across all programs and focus on whole person healthcare, scholarship, community health, interprofessional education, diversity, and underserved populations.

Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine

1. The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit;
2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance;
3. Structure and function are reciprocally related; and
4. Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
5. Application of these tenets is whole person healthcare.

ATSU - One University, Six Schools

Established in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still, A.T. Still University (ATSU) is the original founding institution of osteopathic healthcare. As a leading health sciences university, ATSU provides graduate and professional programs in healthcare fields at campuses in Kirksville, Missouri and Mesa, Arizona on more than 200 acres with six prestigious schools. Learning environments include residential and online medical degree opportunities as well as community-based partnerships worldwide. ATSU has more than 700 employees dedicated to its not-for-profit mission and an average annual enrollment of over 3,100 students from 35 countries. Its schools include Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona School of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, College of Graduate Health Studies, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health.

ATSU is renowned for its preeminence as a multidisciplinary healthcare educator. The University is focused on integrating the founding tenets of osteopathic medicine and the advancing knowledge of today’s science. ATSU continually earns distinctions as the graduate health sciences university with best-in-class curriculum and a community outreach mission to serve the underserved. The University has a rich history of leadership in both healthcare education and correlated research.

ATSU instills in students the compassion, experience and knowledge required to address the whole person and shape healthcare in communities where needs are greatest. Inspired to influence whole person healthcare, ATSU graduates contribute to the future of integrated care while also leading with a selfless passion in the communities they serve.

Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine – Kirksville, MO

The Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM), founded in 1892, is a professional and graduate institution offering the doctor of osteopathic medicine degree and the master of science degree in biomedical sciences. Since its beginning more than a century ago, ATSU-KCOM has established itself as a leader in osteopathic medical education by providing training and instruction to osteopathic physicians who practice across the country and around the world. The College, accredited by the American Osteopathic Association and the Higher Learning Commission, takes pride in its strong curricula, outstanding faculty, clinical experiences, scientific research, service programs, and regional training programs.

ATSU-KCOM and the main campus of ATSU is located in the city of Kirksville, a community of about 20,000 residents in northeast Missouri. The campus encompasses 163 acres with 22 buildings, which includes the latest addition, the Interprofessional Education Building.

Arizona School of Health Sciences – Mesa, AZ

The Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) was established in 1995 in Phoenix, AZ, and moved to the Mesa location in 2001. The school offers doctorate degree programs in athletic training, audiology, and physical therapy; and masters of science degree programs in athletic training, occupational therapy, and physician assistant studies.

ATSU-ASHS provides instruction through residential, online, and blended delivery modes and clinical training for students preparing for careers and obtaining post- professional education and training in athletic training, audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and physician assistant studies. Clinical training sites are utilized throughout Arizona and the United States.

College of Graduate Health Studies – Kirksville, MO

The College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS) educates and prepares healthcare professionals with management and administrative online healthcare degrees for a variety of settings. The College’s goal is to provide comprehensive and relevant online health management knowledge through superior quality, innovative online education.

Since 1999, ATSU-CGHS’s distinguished online doctoral and master’s programs have provided the flexibility necessary for working professionals to meet their career development goals. Curriculums reflect the most current advancements in the industry and prepare graduates to be proactive in navigating the ever-changing healthcare tide. ATSU Online students also have opportunities to gain real-world clinical experience in their hometowns or in other areas of the country.

Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health – Mesa, AZ

Arizona’s first dental school, the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) began addressing the nation’s oral healthcare needs in 2003, offering an educational model that relies on an exceptional cadre of motivated, experienced, learning guides (mentors) for our students in both the preclinical and clinical phases of the degree program.

ATSU-ASDOH prepares caring, technologically adept dental students to become community and educational leaders serving those in need. The school offers students an experience-rich learning environment where health professionals approach patient health as part of an interdisciplinary team. The relationship of oral health to total healthcare is an essential component of the mission, teaching, and clinical experiences at ATSU-ASDOH.

School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona – Mesa, AZ

The School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona’s (ATSU-SOMA) inaugural class of 107 students began classes in the Fall of 2007. The school’s unique curriculum and teaching methods emphasize cutting-edge technology and individualized, active, self-directed learning; much of which occurs in community health centers located in underserved communities across the country.

ATSU-SOMA students’ education in years two through four will be based at one of the 11 select Community Campuses across the country. Year two is spent in these Community Campuses in small group settings, learning additional clinical presentations, observing patient care, and gaining an understanding of the local health system and community health practices. Third- and fourth-year students will complete their clinical rotations at their Community Campuses, associated hospitals, as well as with affiliated healthcare providers and at select healthcare institutions. Osteopathic principles and practices are integrated throughout the curriculum, and the osteopathic manipulative treatment program is designed for primary care applications. This provides distinctive training in the value of healing touch in patient care.

Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health – Kirksville, MO

The Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) offers an educational model that relies on an exceptional cadre of motivated, experienced learning guides (mentors) for our students in both the preclinical and clinical phases of the degree program. In addition to the issues of oral health and the skills of dentistry, students learn from and are encouraged to become caring, community-minded healthcare providers. It is expected that graduates will be leaders in their community and managers of public, not-for-profit and private sector oral health organizations.

ATSU-MOSDOH students spend the first and second year studying the basic sciences and clinical introductions in the classroom setting and complete dental simulation exercises in the Kirksville campus simulation clinic. Third-year students work side by side with licensed dentists in our St. Louis clinic. Fourth-year rotations at community-based clinics may include experiences at a community health center, Indian Health Service clinic, and Veteran’s Administration clinic. Additionally, students who do not already have either a certificate or master’s degree in public health earn a Certificate in Public Health with Dental Emphasis while enrolled at ATSU-MOSDOH.

University Accreditation

A.T. Still University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission - 230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 - Chicago, IL 60604 – info@hlcommission.org - 800.621.7440.

Program Accreditation

The following agencies have accredited various programs at ATSU:

• The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
• The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
• The American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE)
• The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
• The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
• The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
• The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
• The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)
• The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

State Approvals

Degree-granting authority for ATSU-ASDOH, ATSU-ASHS, and ATSU-SOMA has been given by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. At the Arizona campus, if the complaint can not be resolved after exhausting the institution’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education.  The student must contact the State Board for further details. The State Board address is 1740 W. Adams, Ste. 3008, Phoenix, AZ 85007, phone # 602-542-5709, website address: www.ppse.az.gov.

Students with complaints or concerns are encouraged to first utilize the University’s internal complaint or review policies as noted in student’s school section of the Catalog or University Student Handbook. If the issue cannot be resolved internally, students may also file a complaint with the appropriate state agency your current state of residence listed at https://www.atsu.edu/about-atsu#complaint-resolution.

A.T. Still University is an institutional participant in the National Council for State Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) initiative. Our listing can be found under our main campus, A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Missouri at http://www.nc-sara.org/states/mo.

ATSU Board of Trustees