A collaborative clinical campus, a partnership between ChristianaCare and Bayhealth, is being launched in Delaware. Health leaders are launching this new initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s physician workforce and expanding medical education opportunities in central and southern Delaware.
ChristianaCare, Bayhealth and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) have partnered to create the Delaware Collaborative Clinical Campus, a program designed to increase undergraduate medical training opportunities and encourage more physicians to practice in Kent and Sussex counties.
The initiative builds on a longstanding partnership between ChristianaCare and PCOM, where medical students have trained for decades at ChristianaCare facilities in New Castle County. The new program expands that collaboration statewide by integrating Bayhealth into a coordinated clinical education model focused on high-quality rotations and academic mentorship.
Beginning in July 2026, five third-year PCOM medical students will complete clinical rotations in Kent and Sussex counties, gaining hands-on experience at both Bayhealth and ChristianaCare. These students will join the 55 PCOM students already training in Delaware through the existing branch campus at ChristianaCare.
“The partnership with PCOM and ChristianaCare expands the scope and number of medical students trained in Delaware, and ultimately enhances our ability to recruit and retain new physicians that are committed to work in Kent and Sussex counties,” said Gary Siegelman, MD, MSc, CPE, designated institutional official for Bayhealth Medical Center. “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. This directly addresses our workforce needs in underserved areas and enhances access to high-quality care for the patients we serve every day.”
Leaders at PCOM say the program aligns closely with the institution’s mission to train physicians who serve communities with the greatest need.
“PCOM’s mission has always centered on educating the next generation of osteopathic physicians to be community-minded individuals who serve where the need is greatest,” said Jay S. Feldstein, DO ’81, president and CEO of PCOM. “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 — with excellence, empathy, and a shared purpose to improve patient care in Delaware.”
Health care leaders say the new collaborative campus will help address persistent physician shortages in Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), particularly in primary care, dental care and mental health services across Delaware.
“We are incredibly excited about this partnership among three organizations that are already doing amazing work in medical education—now joining together to tackle the real challenges with recruiting and retaining physicians in smaller communities throughout Delaware,” said Brian Levine, M.D., chief academic officer and designated institutional official for ChristianaCare.
“For students, these rotations will provide an exceptional variety of clinical experiences and expert faculty who will help to prepare them for the next phase of their education, which is residency—hopefully right here in Delaware.”
Under the program, students will complete core clinical rotations primarily at Bayhealth and ChristianaCare facilities in Kent and Sussex counties, with additional training opportunities in New Castle County. Clinical experiences will include specialties such as primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, and psychiatry, giving students exposure to a wide range of patient care settings.
Students will also work alongside experienced physicians, residents, nurses, case managers, therapists and other health professionals, allowing them to build practical skills and professional networks while training in Delaware communities.
State health leaders say the initiative complements broader efforts to strengthen Delaware’s medical education pipeline.
“This collaboration is one of the many ways we are demonstrating our commitment to increase and expand our workforce pipelines,” said Neil Jasani, M.D., MBA, FACEP, chair of the Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research (DIMER) Board. “This in turn, allows us to take better care for all Delawareans.”
DIMER helps ensure Delaware residents have access to medical education opportunities through partnerships with institutions such as PCOM and Sidney Kimmel Medical College, while Bayhealth and ChristianaCare serve as clinical training sites for students, residents and fellows.
While the Delaware Collaborative Clinical Campus will be open to all PCOM medical students, the first five participants will be DIMER students from Delaware, returning to their home state for clinical training.
“We are so pleased to enhance training opportunities for medical students in Delaware, specifically in Kent and Sussex Counties,” said Omar Khan, M.D., MHS, FAAFP, president and CEO of the Delaware Health Sciences Alliance. “This reflects what we do best: partner across the state for the wellbeing of our communities through an exceptionally trained workforce.”
