Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) welcomed its seventh class of osteopathic medical students on July 21. New student-doctors from around the country entered Liberty’s Center for Medical and Health Sciences atop Liberty Mountain all with the same hope and goal — to be an osteopathic physician.

“At LUCOM, we will share our values: Christian and osteopathic principles, leadership, professional-ism, service, integrity, and teamwork,” said LUCOM Dean Peter A. Bell, DO, MBA, FACOEP-dist, FACEP, who welcomed students during Tuesday’s opening orientation sessions. “It’s a big deal to be a physician. We have resources in place — academic, mental, and spiritual. We are here to help you day by day, step by step, and we will prepare you.

”By birthplace, the new class of 160 student-doctors represents 34 states and 11 foreign countries. The top states represented are Virginia, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida. There are 131 students entering Liberty’s DO program with a bachelor’s degree, 27 with a post-bac credit or a master’s degree, and two with pharmacy doctorate degrees. LUCOM’s Office of Admissions reviewed over 3,703 applications throughout the previous academic year. Of those, 433 candidates were inter-viewed, either in person or virtually (when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place).

Each year, the incoming class participates in a weeklong orientation to help them get to know the faculty and staff, under-stand academic and professional expectations, get accustomed to the culture, and join in other activities designed to enhance their experience at LUCOM.

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