Approximately 82 percent of the members of the graduating class at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) Class of 2016 will enter their first year of residency training in a primary care track, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, emergency medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine and transitional year/traditional rotating internship. The members of the Class of 2016 will be in 121 different residency programs in 30 states.
Recently, LMU-DCOM was ranked No. 2 by U.S. News and World Report in medical schools that produce the highest percentage of primary care residents. The ranking was based on 2013-2015 data averages.
“LMU-DCOM was founded with a mission to address the critical health care shortages in Appalachia and beyond,” said Brian A. Kessler, DO, FACOFP, vice president and dean of LMU-DCOM. “This data illustrates that the University and its graduates are fulfilling this mission.”
This year, LMU-DCOM has placed 99.5 percent of its graduating class into postgraduate training programs. Of the graduating class, 61 percent were placed into osteopathic residency programs. Thirty seven percent accepted residency positions with allopathic programs and 2 percent are going into military programs. Approximately 27 percent of the graduating class were placed into programs within the Appalachian region, and 9 percent within the state of Tennessee.
Once medical students graduate with their medical degree, they must match to residency programs to receive several years of additional training in their chosen medical specialty. Prior to Match Day, medical students apply to residency programs and are interviewed for potential acceptance. After that process is complete, both the medical students and the residency programs rank their choices with a central matching service. On Match Day, the results of this process are announced. Two Match Days are held annually — one specifically for osteopathic (D.O.) residency programs and another for allopathic (M.D.) residency programs. Osteopathic medical students like those at LMU-DCOM are eligible to participate in either match. Traditionally, approximately half of all D.O. students match in the osteopathic match and half match in the M.D. match. Successful completion of residency training and board exams leads to certification in a medical specialty.
The LMU-DCOM Class of 2016 will celebrate its graduation May 14 at 10 a.m. in Tex Turner Arena on the LMU main campus in Harrogate.
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community, and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1-800-325-0900, ext. 7108, email dcom@lmunet.edu, or visit us online at www.lmunet.edu/dcom.