Buffalo, NY – Canisius University is expanding its growing portfolio of accelerated academic pathways with the fall 2026 launch of a new six-year BS/MD Accelerated Pathway to MD (APMD) in partnership with Western Atlantic University School of Medicine (WAUSM). University leaders from both institutions formally signed an agreement on Tuesday, April 28, establishing a direct and structured route for students to earn both a bachelor's degree and doctor of medicine (MD) in six years.
Designed for aspiring physicians, the APMD offers a more efficient alternative to the traditional eight-year path while maintaining the academic rigor, personalized support and mission-driven education that define Canisius.
"Today marks an important moment for Canisius University and for the students who will follow this new path in the years ahead," said President Steve Stoute. "As a Catholic, Jesuit university, our mission calls us to do more than educate. It calls us to form men and women for and with others, to prepare graduates for professional success and also for lives of purpose, service and impact. This partnership reflects that commitment by creating a pathway that expands access and connects students to opportunity in one of the most consequential professions in our society."
Students in the pathway will complete an accelerated year-round course of study at Canisius before transitioning to WAUSM, where approved coursework counts toward both degrees. The dual-credit structure enables students to complete their BS and MD without adding time or cost.
The new pathway is grounded in Canisius' core curriculum, "which immerses students in the sciences, social sciences and humanities while developing in students the communication skills, ethical judgment and understanding of the human experience that is essential to the practice of medicine," noted Nancy Wallace, PhD, dean of the Division of Arts, Education and the Sciences. "Students also gain early exposure to clinical settings through volunteering, physician-led seminars and engagement with Buffalo's medical community."
The inaugural cohort will come from Canisius' Chemistry for Health Sciences major, a deliberate decision rooted in the strength and outcomes of the program.
"More than half of chemistry graduates pursue health-related careers and among those who apply to medical, dental or pharmacy school, approximately 90 percent are accepted," added Wallace.
In the second phase of the APMD, students transition to WAUSM, where – after successfully completing the first two terms of the MD program – they earn their bachelor’s degree from Canisius and continue their journey toward an MD without adding additional time or coursework. Students complete their foundational medical school coursework on WAUSM’s pre-clerkship campus in Freeport, Grand Bahama, before advancing to their clinical clerkships at WAUSM’s partner hospitals in Chicago, IL. Throughout this phase, students continue to receive guidance and support from Canisius faculty and alumni mentors. Upon earning their MD degree, graduates are eligible to apply for residency training programs in the U.S. and Canada.
"From the time we began conversations with Canisius University, it was clear that our missions were deeply aligned," said Ryan Moriarty, vice president for development and enrollment management at WAUSM. "Both institutions are committed to student-centered learning, academic excellence and preparing future physicians. This partnership creates a streamlined pathway that supports students from undergraduate study through medical training and residency placement."
WAUSM reported strong early outcomes across its MD Program, including a 100 percent residency match rate for its first group of students to participate in the 2026 residency match cycle in the U.S. and Canada, as well as 100 percent first-time pass rates on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2, as of July 1, 2025.
Under the structure of the pathway, applicants use a single, streamlined application but are admitted independently by both Canisius and WAUSM. Canisius will select the inaugural cohort from students in its Chemistry for Health Sciences major, with eligibility set to expand to students in the Biomedical Sciences major.
Western Atlantic University School of Medicine was founded by medical education leaders who have helped shape current practice in the U.S. and Canada and have selected and trained thousands of successful MDs over the last three decades. The university provides opportunities for deserving U.S., Bahamian, Canadian, and candidates worldwide to become outstanding, patient-centered MDs. Its students consistently excel – in WAUSM’s annual reporting, as of July 1, 2025, the first-time United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2 pass rate was 100 percent.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
