Preparing for the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine interview

When preparing for your interview at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM), demonstrating your clinical insight is only part of the equation. LUCOM emphasizes osteopathic philosophy, faith-integrated service, and a deep commitment to rural and underserved care—especially relevant in Virginia's evolving health policy environment. 

To shine during your interview, you’ll need to do more than recite your resume—you must thoughtfully speak to regional healthcare challenges, national policy shifts, and how LUCOM specifically prepares future physicians to serve with compassion, humility, and innovation.

1. LUCOM’s Interview Process: Structure, Values, and What They’re Really Assessing

LUCOM uses a hybrid format blending traditional one-on-one interviews with scenario-based ethics assessments. 

Key details:

• Panel Interviews: 2-3 faculty/student interviewers focusing on alignment with LUCOM’s mission. Expect questions like, “How does your faith inform your approach to patient care?” (reflecting LUCOM’s Christian foundation).

• Ethical Scenarios: Situations testing osteopathic principles, e.g., “A patient refuses vaccines due to religious beliefs. How do you respond while honoring their autonomy?”

• Themes: Holistic care, service to rural/underserved populations, and integrating mind-body-spirit in treatment (core to osteopathy).

Insider Tip: LUCOM prioritizes service-mindedness. Highlight experiences in Virginia’s underserved regions (e.g., Southwest VA’s Health Wagon clinics) to stand out.

2. Virginia’s Healthcare Policy: Rural Realities & Legislative Levers

1. Medicaid Expansion Fallout

Virginia expanded Medicaid in 2019, covering 500,000+ residents, but rural enrollment lags. Only 68% of eligible Southwest Virginians are enrolled versus 89% in Northern VA. LUCOM’s SMART Clinic partners with Lynchburg Community Health Center to bridge this gap—mention this to show program awareness.

2. Rural Hospital Crisis

11 VA hospitals have closed since 2010. LUCOM trains students at Centra Health, a system serving 500,000+ rural patients. Discuss innovative solutions like LUCOM’s telehealth rotations in Wise County, where patients drive 90+ minutes for specialty care.

3. Opioid Settlement Reinvestment

VA is allocating $530M from opioid lawsuits toward recovery programs. LUCOM’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship works with Roanoke’s Rescue Mission, combining medication-assisted treatment with faith-based counseling—a model likely to surface in ethics discussions.

Tip: Cite LUCOM’s Center for Medical Humanities when discussing policy solutions to show depth.

3. Current Events & Social Issues: The Virginia Lens

Local Flashpoints

• Maternal Care Deserts: 35% of VA counties lack OB-GYNs. LUCOM’s partnership with Lynchburg Pregnancy Center provides prenatal care for uninsured women—tie this to osteopathic emphasis on preventive care.

• Mental Health Workforce Shortages: VA ranks 31st in psychiatrists per capita. LUCOM students train at Virginia Baptist Hospital’s psychiatric unit, one of few in Central VA offering electroconvulsive therapy.

• Climate Health: Coastal VA faces rising asthma rates due to humidity-driven mold (Norfolk hospitalization rates are 2x state average). LUCOM’s Global Health Outreach runs mold-abatement workshops in Portsmouth public housing.

National Issues with VA Stakes

• Abortion Access: VA’s 15-week ban proposal (2023) could strain rural maternal care. LUCOM’s ethics curriculum emphasizes “whole-person advocacy”—be prepared to discuss balancing personal beliefs with patient needs.

• Immigrant Health: 10% of VA’s population is foreign-born. Highlight LUCOM’s Hispanic Outreach Program in Danville, where students provide bilingual diabetes screenings.

Tip: Reference LUCOM’s VCOM-VT collaboration on Appalachian health projects to demonstrate cross-institutional awareness.

4. The 5 Questions Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine is most likely to ask during your medical school interview

1. “Why osteopathic medicine over allopathic, and why LUCOM specifically?”

2. “How would you improve access to primary care in Buchanan County, where 30% lack insurance?”

3. “A patient attributes their chronic pain to ‘God’s plan.’ How do you respond as an osteopathic physician?”

4. “Describe a time you served a community with values different from yours.”

5. “Virginia’s suicide rate rose 15% in rural areas last year. Propose an intervention using osteopathic principles.”