Beginning in the fall of 2023, physician graduates from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) who enroll in Auburn University’s highly ranked Physicians Executive MBA (PEMBA) program will be eligible for a 10% tuition discount.

Officials from the PEMBA program, which is run by the Harbert College of Business, announced the incentive in December after signing a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, with VCOM.

VCOM alumni who earned their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Auburn, as well as campuses located in Blacksburg, Virgina, Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Monroe, Louisiana, are all eligible for the PEMBA tuition break during the 21 month-long master’s degree program.

“Our Harbert PEMBA program is one of the strongest of its kind, and we believe this partnership with VCOM will make it stronger,” said Michael Wesson, the associate dean for graduate and executive programs. “We are eager to have the opportunity to share what we have to offer with such an incredibly talented alumni base. Our mission will be to provide VCOM graduates with the most up-to-date business knowledge and teach how that knowledge can be directly applied in a healthcare setting.”

This agreement is the first of its kind for the PEMBA program, and the Auburn connection between both programs was a driving factor in the decision to move forward.

“As a proud part of the Auburn family, we are very excited to partner with Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business PEMBA program,” said Dr. Heath Parker, dean for the Auburn VCOM campus. “Our healthcare system greatly benefits from physician leadership with professional business education. I recognize the Auburn PEMBA program as one of the best in the country to provide our alumni additional skills to help them further their medical careers.”

Auburn’s PEMBA program is one of the only MBA programs in the nation designed specifically for physicians. The program includes travel to Washington D.C. to study healthcare policy and overseas travel to study comparative healthcare systems. Additionally, the short on-campus residencies combined with online coursework allow physicians to complete the program while continuing their medical practice. This innovative course design was appealing to the administration at VCOM.

“This program will allow VCOM physician graduates a greater opportunity to learn from world-class leaders at Auburn University providing healthcare-specific leadership and operational knowledge well beyond a traditional MBA,” Dr. Parker said.

Applications are currently being accepted, and interested students are encouraged to contact the PEMBA admissions staff at gradex@auburn.edu or 334-844-4060.