Founded in 1916, Kansas City University (KCU) began as one of the nation’s first colleges of osteopathic medicine and has grown to become the sixth largest medical school in the nation and the largest medical school in Missouri.
In 2017, the University opened a second campus in Joplin, the KCU Farber-McIntire Campus, marking a significant milestone in the University’s history. KCU-Joplin was made possible through partnerships between KCU and Mercy Hospital Joplin, Freeman Health System, the City of Joplin and philanthropic leaders from Joplin and the surrounding communities.
As the only medical school campus in southwest Missouri, KCU-Joplin seeks to provide educational opportunities for students who want to study and practice medicine in the area, rather than relocating after receiving their medical degree. As the region experiences a growing need for physicians, KCU-Joplin will help provide new doctors who will expand access to primary care. Currently, KCU is the leading provider of physicians for Missouri, with more than 50 percent of alumni practicing in primary care specialties. The College of Osteopathic Medicine has a total of 600 students.
In June 2019, KCU announced the development of a College of Dental Medicine on the Farber-McIntire campus to address the critical need for more dentists in the four-state region, specifically in rurual and underserved communities. The College of Dental Medicine will seat its first class of 80 students in July 2023.
KCU-Joplin has an estimated economic impact of $79 million annually.
