New school gets accreditation


Warning: Undefined array key "url" in /var/www/html/wp-includes/media.php on line 1433

Warning: Undefined array key "descriptor" in /var/www/html/wp-includes/media.php on line 1433

The Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine is now accepting applications for its first class

Construction — Dr. Ronnie Martin stands in front of the college that is nearing completion. Photo credit: Leah Stauffer

Construction — Dr. Ronnie Martin stands in front of the college that is nearing completion. Photo credit: Leah Stauffer

The Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine has been under meticulous development for the past three years and, most recently, received provisional accreditation from its programmatic accreditor and recognition from Liberty’s regional accreditor.

The school has obtained, according to Dr. Ronnie Martin, its founding dean, “the highest accreditation that’s possible … at this stage of development.”

According to Martin, accreditation will be stringent and “a very continuous, ongoing ramping up process.”

Martin said that the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. had conceived the idea for the college in the early seventies, and that development began in 2010.

“Dr. Falwell had a dream about the success of the university and that it might grow to rival some of the top institutions in the country, “ Martin said.

According to Martin, the structure being constructed across the highway from main campus will be used mainly for the purposes of the new osteopathic medical college but will be shared with other programs offered by the university, including the Masters of Public
Health program.

After receiving provisional accreditation, LUCOM began accepting applications for the inaugural class, scheduled to open in August 2014, according
to Martin.

Even though they have not accepted students yet, Dr. Martin said the college is currently screening potential student applications and will begin interviewing applicants while the college continues to develop.

According to Martin, part of the mission of LUCOM is to educate osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment, instilling the Christian values of integrity, professionalism and a servant’s heart.

“It is our hope that many Liberty students will choose to become involved with us in medical school…they help establish the culture of service that we think is so important,” Martin said.

Currently, the school is approved for 150 students for the first year of classes, and Martin said he hopes that about 20-35 of those students will be
Liberty graduates, according to Martin.

He said one thing prospective students will have to expect, is the intensified workload that comes with being in a medical school.

“We go year round,” Martin said. “Each of our years is more than 60 credits, so at the end of the first two years every student has approximately 140 credits. We do not have a trimester that is less than 25 credits, which is a little more than most undergraduate students take in a year.”

Dr. Martin expressed he is pleased with the support he and the school have received from everyone involved, and he is excited to play a role in helping Dr. Falwell’s vision for Liberty become a reality and to meet community and regional healthcare needs in a meaningful capacity.

One comment

  • My daughter has to enroll in a medical school once she completes her undergraduate degree in 2015. She is studying to be a psychiatrist. She would love to attend a Christian medical school and was hoping that Liberty University has plans for medical school along with Osteopathic?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *