Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

About:
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as LUCOM is one of the 17 schools located at Liberty University. LUCOM graduated its first class of around 126 medical students and entered its first residency in 2018. The students at LUCOM are trained by committed healthcare professionals. LUCOM has designed a student-centered and world-class curriculum that is typically Christian. There are several state-of-the-art services & facilities provided by LUCOM to ensure that the students of osteopathic medicine get the advanced and latest medical education in a life-long learning environment. Moreover, LUCOM also provides clinical rotation opportunities for the student-doctors at core sites in Southwest & Southern Virginia. The Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine is located in one of the tobacco areas of Virginia State. At LUCOM, community-based healthcare physicians are trained with an aim to provide under-represented people access to quality medical facilities. The graduates of LUCOM get the foundation of competencies, skills, and knowledge that will allow them to fulfill the various needs of the community. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is committed to graduating osteopathic physicians who are ethical and professional.Contact Information:
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- Phone: (434) 592-6400
- Email: LUCOM@Liberty.edu
- Business Hours:-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Location: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 306 Liberty View Lane, Lynchburg, VA 24502.
Mission Statement:
The mission of Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) is to educate and train osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment. LUCOM trains physicians who dedicate themselves to osteopathic medicine through life-long learning, service towards their fellows, and the innovation of medical knowledge. Also, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine aims to train physicians who will provide patient-centered, competent, compassionate, and ethical osteopathic medical care.Values:
The values of LUCOM are Teamwork, service, leadership, integrity, scholarship, diversity, and the ethical & equitable treatment of the community.Goals:
These are a few goals of LUCOM:- To graduate osteopathic physicians who will be committed to providing high-quality care to represented communities in Virginia and beyond.
- To provide an education that is community-focused, evidence-based, holistic, and patient-centered.
- To advance the skills, knowledge, personal lives, and career of the staff and faculty of LUCOM through research, fostering a positive environment, faculty development, and research.
- To maintain and establish International and National mission programs and medical outreach to educate physicians to serve in under-represented areas of Virginia and the developing world.
- To enhance and support osteopathic and other medical fields through support, leadership, development of policies, and expansion of knowledge.
Educational Programs:
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree:
LUCOM offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, accredited by the AOA-COCA (American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation). The DO degree program is a 4-year residential degree program where students will learn how to understand diseases and health so that they can diagnose the disease effectively and find a cure to improve the lives of patients. The students will be a specialized education in the musculoskeletal system integrated with the latest enhancements in the medical field.Dates to remember for the Admission Process:
- May: The AACOMAS Application will begin.
- June: The AAMCOMAS verifies the applications.
- July: The Admissions Office of LUCOM starts review.
- Aug: The process of sending & collecting secondary applications begin. The qualified applicants are invited by LUCOM for the interview.
- Aug-April: LUCOM interviews the students.
- March: The review of final applications begin.
- April: End of the LUCOM’s Admissions Office application cycle.
- May: New classes begin.
Admission Requirements:
Matriculation Requirements:
To be eligible for the admission, an applicant must have:-
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A baccalaureate degree or higher.
Or, the applicants must have completed at least 75% of credits required for a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university/college. -
GPA:
The overall and science GPA must be 3.0. LUCOM requires a CGPA of 3.4 (out of 4.00). -
MCAT:
The preferred MCAT score by LUCOM is 504. Moreover, no less than a score of 123 will be considered by the LUCOM. The MCAT scores must not be older than 3 years. An average of the highest scores of MCAT will not be considered.
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Undergraduate Courses Required for Admission:
The applicant needs to have a minimum of grade ‘C’ in all of these courses:-
- Biochemistry or Cellular Biology: 3-5 semester hour and 2 semesters of biochemistry. (Completion of both courses is highly preferred).
- Biological Sciences: 1-year with a lab.
- English: 2 courses (6-10 semester hours).
- Inorganic Chemistry: 1-year with a lab.
- Organic Chemistry: 1-year with a lab.
- Physics: 1 semester with a lab.
Undergraduate Courses Recommended for Admission:
- Genetics
- Human Anatomy
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Theology
- Speech
- Debate
- Drama
- Statistics
Application Process:
Like other osteopathic colleges, LUCOM has a centralized application processing service called the AACOMAS. The applicant can apply online at www.aacom.org.Application Deadline:
In June of each year, the applications are accepted. The last date for LUCOM applicants is 1st March, but it can change if the incoming class is filled before that date. The deadline to submit the supporting materials and Secondary Application is 15th March. Those applications that will be submitted before the end of December will have a realistic and higher chance of securing admissions for the next year.LUCOM Secondary Application Process:
LUCOM will make the secondary application available to those applicants who will successfully meet the minimum criteria after initial screening and are determined to enhance the vision, mission, and goals of LUCOM. Those applicants who will meet the minimum admission requirements will be sent their log-in information for the secondary application via email. The applicants also need to submit a non-refundable application fee of $50 along with the letters of recommendation and completion of the non-waiver/waiver/non-waiver statement.Letters of Recommendation:
LUCOM requires 3 letters of recommendation which should be from:-
- A DO or an MD (board-certified physician).
- A science professor, committee, or pre-health advisor.
- Someone who can speak to the applicant’s attributes professionally and academically.
Interview Selection Process:
An applicant must meet all the technical standards and admission requirements to be considered for an on-campus interview. They must have a complete file including the secondary application, AACOMAS application, 3 letters of recommendation, and the processing fee. However, an interview doesn’t guarantee admission. All the candidates are required to sign an acknowledgment that they:- Meet the technical standards.
- Comply with the LUCOM’s policies.
- Comply with the LUCOM’s statement for students.
- Comply with academic responsibility/code of conduct of LUCOM.
Tuition & Fees:
LUCOM Tuition (2020-2021)-$23,500 (Per Semester). Admission Deposit: $2,000 (non-refundable).Liberty University (LU) Fees (per semester):
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- Student Activity Fee-$285
- Student Health Fee -$170
- Parking Fee-$100
LUCOM Fees (Annually):
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- Malpractice Insurance Fee-$300
- Student Activity Fee-$300
- Anatomy, Clinical Medicine, SIM Lab-$525
LUCOM One-Time Fees:
- Computer/Equipment Fee-$1750 (First year only)
- Graduation Fee-$950 (Senior year only)
Transfer Applications:
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine accepts transfer applications in rare cases only from AOA or LCME accredited colleges. Transfer applicants must be eligible for readmission in their current college of medicine and must be passing all the courses at the time of transfer with a good grade. Those applicants who are out of the school for more than a year are considered ineligible for transfer to LUCOM. Transfer applicants are required to submit the following documents:- A letter of request and reason for transfer
- A letter of recommendation from the Dean of presently/previously attended the College of Osteopathic Medicine
- A copy of the applicant’s D.O./M.D.-level transcript.
- A copy of the school’s catalog with course descriptions.
Pre-Medical School Checklist:
- Visit the AACOM site.
- Get involved by the medical professionals by volunteering at local organizations.
- Research the medical schools of your interest.
- Be sure to take all the pre-requisite courses.
- Begin thinking about your personal statement & personal philosophy.
- Prepare and take MCAT.
- Seek guidance from your pre-medical advisor.
- Be ready to speak and write about your experience and service activities.
- Practice your interview skills.
Facilities:
Medical Facilities:
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine believes that both the place where students study is as important as what they study. LUCOM provides students access to advance medical technology which includes an Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Lab where students enhance their skills for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease through physical manipulation. There are several state-of-the-art services & facilities provided by LUCOM to ensure that the students of osteopathic medicine get the advanced and latest medical education in a life-long learning environment. The educational parts of the CMHS (Center for Medical and Health Sciences) are occupied for the doctors of Liberty University and offer a space of 140,000 square feet.Recreational Facilities:
All the students of Liberty University have access to Liberty’s recreational facilities, including the soccer field, indoor basketball courts, the LaHaye Recreation & Fitness Center, an ice center, a rock-climbing wall, tennis courts, an Olympic-size pool, and weightlifting and cardio facilities. In addition to this students can also enjoy snowboarding, snowboarding, and participate in several of Liberty’s intramural sports.Counseling Services:
LUCOM provides counseling services and guidance to its students throughout the academic year. It has an open-door policy and can guide students on several aspects such as:-
- Personal
- Emotional
- Spiritual
- Social
- Physical
- Financial
- Academic
Mental & Physical Health Services:
LUCOM’s staff and faculty care about the physical and mental health of their students. LUCOM ensures that students have access to various mental health services, both off and on-campus.Medical Library:
The medical library of LUCOM is located on the fourth floor of the Center for Medical and Health Sciences. It is around the 7,500-square foot and offers multiple educational support for the students of LUCOM School of Health Sciences. There are 46 individual study rooms, 15 semi-private study rooms in the medical library with walls coated in whiteboard paint for creative studying, and a comfortable seating area for relaxation. Moreover, there are a few extensive holdings that are available in print and electronically which consists of various licenses for recommended and required journals that support the medical curriculum.Top 10 places to eat near Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine:
- Suzaku Café
- La Carreta
- Vinny’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria
- O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar
- Woodfire Pizza Company
- Chili’s Grill & Bar
- Panda Express
- Muscle Maker Grill
- Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh
- Olive Garden Italian Restaurant