LUCOM holds virtual Hooding Ceremony to honor 141 graduates entering medical field as doctors

What would normally have been a special day for families and friends to visit campus to celebrate the third graduating class of Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) on May 9 was different this year due to the annual Hooding Ceremony being canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. LUCOM still honored its 141 new Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) during a virtual hooding ceremony.

Several faculty recorded a unique Recognition of Graduates video posted on May 9. Dr. Bell delivered an official address to the class and faculty offered prayers. The names of each graduate were read, and Michael D. Lockwood, DO, FCA, led the Osteopathic Oath.

“To hood an osteopathic graduate is an important symbolic event both for the ‘hooded’ and the physician who hoods the graduate. Unfortunately, during this unprecedented time and national crisis, we were forced to think outside the box,” said Peter A. Bell, DO, MBA, FACOEP-dist, FACEP, dean and professor of family and emergency medicine. “I am thankful for the technology available to us to honor the Class of 2020 creatively and effectively.”

LUCOM graduate Monica Gaines, DO, said she watched the ceremony on a video conference with family and friends.

“Graduating this year may have looked different than I was expecting, but LUCOM put in a lot of hard work and effort to make sure that each graduate still felt special and recognized,” she said. “I was able to watch the Recognition of Graduatesvideo with 20 of my family and friends over Zoom and they cheered and shouted when they called my name. I stood and took the Osteopathic Oath and was so happy that my loved ones were able to take in the momentous occasion with me!”

LUCOM also posted a collection of congratulatory remarks from faculty and staff.

In keeping with tradition, LUCOM held its annual awards ceremony via an Academic Awards and Recognitions video and a final Convocation address featuring David Klink, DO, LUCOM’s global medicine concentration faculty program director. Dr. Klink also participated in a pre-recorded military appreciation message for LUCOM military graduates.

Dr. Bell noted the achievements of this year’s graduates.

“Our Class of 2020 exceeded the national match rate for residencies with an incredible 99 percent match, the highest so far in LUCOM’s history,” he said. “Though we couldn’t celebrate corporately, all of us at LUCOM look forward to seeing all that God plans to do in the lives of our graduates as they faithfully serve His Kingdom and pursue His plans.”

Liberty University will host Commencement activities on Sept. 11-12 and the LUCOM Class of 2020 is invited back to Liberty’s campus to participate.