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The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy will change its name to the Northeast Ohio Medical University if approved by the Ohio Senate.

Bill 139, which proposed the name change, passed the Ohio House on a vote of 94-1 April 6.

According to its website, NEOUCOM, located in Rootstown, is “a community-based, public institution focused on the inter-professional training of health professionals.” NEOUCOM is partnered with Kent State, the University of Akron, Cleveland State University and Youngstown State University, as well as several area hospitals and pharmacies.

Cristine Boyd, NEOUCOM’s director of public relations and marketing, wrote in an e-mail that if the change is approved by the Senate, the proposal will go to Gov. John Kasich for a final sign-off.

“The name will immediately be official when the governor signs the paperwork,” Boyd said. “We will officially launch the name and begin to use it on all of our materials in mid-August.”

The NEOUCOM Board of Trustees voted unanimously in July to move forward in the process of changing the university’s name. Boyd said the institution has been planning for the name change in the event of its approval.

“We have been working to develop new brand imagery, including a logo and new design elements,” Boyd said.

In a press release, NEOUCOM President Jay Gershen said the new name “pays respect to the geographic area that we serve and to our successful educational and research programs in medicine, pharmacy and community health. We look forward to getting this name approved by the legislature and further developing the brand as a premier medical university.”

Boyd said the name change is just one part of a multi-phase transformational process within the university, which includes a new strategic plan, organizational review and campus master plan.

Contact Leighann McGivern at [email protected].