Chair and Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Clerkship Director

Education

  • DO, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • BS, College of William and Mary
  • Board certification, American Board of Family Medicine

Courses Taught

  • Capstone II and III
  • Cardiopulmonary –CP
  • Dermatology – ORD
  • Endocrine – Endo
  • Gastrointestinal – GI
  • Geriatrics – Geri/EOL
  • GI-Nutrition – GI-Nutri
  • Patient-Centered Medicine – PCM, Course Director
  • Rheumatology – ORD
  • Urology – Neph/Uro
  • Women’s Health – WH

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
  • Lynchburg Academy of Medicine (LAM)
  • Medical Society of Virginia (MSV)
  • Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association (VOMA)

Biography

Dr. Pettitt is originally from Charlottesville, Virginia.  She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001. She returned to Virginia for residency at Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency, where she also served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Pettitt has worked in rural Virginia, as well as the Veterans Affairs health system, where she started a Women’s Health clinic.  She always enjoyed teaching students, so it was a natural progression to transition to academic medicine at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Pettitt’s interests include Simulation in Medical Education and Preventive Medicine.

Publications

  • Hoegerl C, Barton A, Pettitt R (January 22, 2023) Innovation in Learning: Critical Review of the Literature Is Absolutely Necessary for the Modern Medical Student. Cureus 15(1): e34055. doi:10.7759/cureus.34055
  • Pettitt R M, Brown E A, Delashmitt J C, et al. (October 12, 2022) The Management of Anxiety and Depression in Pediatrics. Cureus 14(10): e30231. doi:10.7759/cureus.30231
  • Pettitt, R.M., Horkott, G.B., Reno, D.C., Grohol, B.N. (2022) An Osteopathic Approach to Anemia, Osteopathic Family Physician, 14 (5), 10-15
  • Pettitt, R.M, Gara, T.M, Izak, M.E., Steele, E.R (2022) The Impact of Climate Change on our Patients’ Health and the Family Physician’s Role, Osteopathic Family Physician, 14 (4), 35-40
  • Speaker at the Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association Fall Conference, entitled “Sexually Transmitted Infections”, October 2021
  • Poster Presentation for the American Academy of Osteopathic Family Physicians- Breast Abscess: A Rare Complication of a Common Complaint, co-authored with local physician and OMS-III student, February 2021
  • Pettitt, R.M., Brumbaugh, A.P, Gartman, M.F., Jackson, A.M., (2020) Chronic Kidney Disease: Detection and Evaluation, Osteopathic Family Physician, 12(1), 14-19
  • Pettitt, R.M., Kota, S.V., Hadfield, M.J., (2017) Abnormal Loss of Weight. Osteopathic Family Physician, 9(2), 20-24
  • Pettitt, R.M., Ilustrisimo, T.L., Song, J.Y., Kim, A.J. (2018). Newborn Disorders and Nutritional Guidance, Osteopathic Family Physician 10 (6), 20-26
  • Hadfield, M.J, Kota, S.V., Siragusa, S.M., Pettitt, R.M. (2019). Skin & Soft Tissue Infections: It’s More Than Just MRSA. Osteopathic Family Physician, 11(1), 28-32
  • Pettitt, R.M., Brumbaugh, A.P, Gartman, M.F., Jackson, A.M., (2020) Chronic Kidney Disease: Detection and Evaluation, Osteopathic Family Physician,12(1), 14-19

Awards

  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2016-17 – Class of 2019
  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2018-19 – Class of 2020
  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2019-20 – Class of 2022
  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2019-20 – Class of 2023
  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2020-21 – Class of 2023
  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2020-21 – Class of 2024
  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2021-22 – Class of 2024
  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2021-22 – Class of 2025
  • LUCOM Clinical Educator of the Year 2022-23 – Class of 2026