WILMINGTON, DE — ChristianaCare, Bayhealth and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine have partnered to establish the Delaware Collaborative Clinical Campus to expand undergraduate medical education and recruit more physicians to central and southern Delaware.
The program will begin in July 2026, when five third-year PCOM medical students will complete clinical rotations in Kent and Sussex counties at Bayhealth and ChristianaCare facilities. The students will join 55 others currently training in the Delaware Branch Campus at ChristianaCare in New Castle County.
The organizations said the initiative is designed to strengthen the state’s physician workforce pipeline, particularly in Medically Underserved Areas that face shortages in primary care, dental and mental health services.
Gary Siegelman, designated institutional official for Bayhealth Medical Center, said expanding student training in Kent and Sussex counties is intended to improve recruitment and retention.
“By providing PCOM students with immersive, hands-on clinical rotations in our communities, we’re not only offering them outstanding training in diverse real-world settings but also building stronger connections that encourage them to establish their practices right here in Delaware,” Siegelman said.
Jay S. Feldstein, president and chief executive officer of PCOM, said the partnership aligns with the school’s mission to prepare physicians to serve areas of need.
“By combining our commitment to compassionate, hands-on education with Delaware’s deep-rooted networks of care, we’re preparing future clinicians to meet people where they are,” Feldstein said.
Students will complete core rotations primarily in Kent and Sussex counties, with additional opportunities in New Castle County. Clinical training will include primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry and other specialties.
Neil Jasani, chair of the Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research Board, said the collaboration expands workforce development efforts in the state.
“This in turn allows us to take better care for all Delawareans,” Jasani said.
DIMER secures medical school admission opportunities for Delaware residents at PCOM and the Sidney Kimmel Medical College and coordinates clinical training partnerships with ChristianaCare and Bayhealth.
The first five students participating in the collaborative campus will be DIMER medical students from Delaware returning to the state for clinical training, according to the organizations.
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