Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine - Knoxville Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

This guide provides key information to help you prepare for an interview at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) in Knoxville. It begins by outlining the interview format and style used by LMU-DCOM (Knoxville) and then reviews the institution’s mission and values as they relate to its educational approach. You’ll find a description of the DCOM program and campus, including unique features and suggestions for questions you might ask your interviewers. The guide also covers relevant healthcare policy topics for Tennessee and the region, highlights the non-academic qualities LMU-DCOM looks for in applicants, and discusses competency frameworks that underpin the program’s training. Additionally, common themes from past interview questions are summarized to illustrate what topics tend to arise. Finally, important timelines and deadlines for the 2025-2026 application cycle are provided to keep you on track.

Each section of this report is analyzed with an eye toward interview preparation. By understanding the interview process, the school’s ethos, program details, and the broader context of healthcare in the community, you can better align your preparation with LMU-DCOM’s expectations and make a strong impression on interview day.

LMU-DCOM (Knoxville) uses a traditional one-on-one interview format rather than an MMI. The interview cycle runs from September through June, reflecting a rolling admissions process lmunet.edu. Each applicant meets with a single interviewer (a faculty or staff member) for about 20 minutes in a closed-file setting lmunet.edu. “Closed-file” means the interviewer has not reviewed your application before meeting you, so questions tend to be general and exploratory forums.studentdoctor.net.

The tone of the interview is often described as conversational and "laid back" forums.studentdoctor.net. Interviewers commonly ask broad questions like “Why medicine?” or “Why osteopathic medicine?” to get to know you as a person forums.studentdoctor.net. Because they do not have your academic file in front of them, expect to take the initiative in discussing your background, motivations, and experiences in depth. In general, being invited to interview is a positive indicator: one forum source noted that out of over 3,000 applicants, roughly 600 were invited to interview forums.studentdoctor.net. With class sizes totaling around 200+ seats across the Harrogate and Knoxville campuses, a significant proportion of those who interview ultimately receive acceptances or wait-list offers.

LMU-DCOM’s mission centers on preparing osteopathic physicians who view service to humanity as a cornerstone of their calling aacom.org. The college emphasizes a values-based learning environment and aims to improve healthcare access in Appalachia and other underserved communities aacom.org. Key themes include compassionate, patient-centered care, leadership in public service, high ethical standards, and a commitment to improving medical care in rural regions aacom.org. This mission-driven ethos isn’t just words on paper – it shapes the school’s priorities and can be felt in the interview and admissions process.

For interview preparation, it’s important to understand and reflect on these values. LMU-DCOM was founded with the goal of placing primary care doctors in Appalachia lmunet.edu, and interviewers may look for evidence that your goals align with serving underserved populations or embodying the school’s service-oriented philosophy. The emphasis on ethical, compassionate care means that demonstrating integrity and empathy in your discussions can resonate with the school’s core values.

Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine opened in Harrogate, TN in 2007 and expanded to a second location in Knoxville in 2019 lmunet.edu. The Knoxville campus welcomed an inaugural class of 125 students in Fall 2019 lmunet.edu and features a state-of-the-art facility. The campus includes two large auditoriums (seating 320 and 360), 26 standardized patient exam rooms, two gross anatomy labs, eight high-fidelity simulation labs, and an osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) classroom with 40 manipulation tables lmunet.edu. These resources support an integrated curriculum that combines basic sciences, clinical skills, and osteopathic principles from day one. The four-year DO program is divided into two pre-clinical years on campus followed by two clinical years of rotations. During clinical rotations (years 3 and 4), students train in affiliated hospitals and clinics; LMU-DCOM has established rotation sites across Tennessee and nearby regions to provide diverse patient care experiences (often with a focus on rural and underserved settings in line with its mission).

In addition to the core Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, LMU-DCOM offers opportunities for students to broaden their education. For example, a dual-degree DO/MBA program is available, allowing interested students to gain business and management expertise alongside their medical training aacom.org. Students can also engage in research and community service through various student organizations and initiatives, reflecting the school’s commitment to producing well-rounded physicians. Notably, LMU-DCOM supports international rotations for fourth-year students, meaning you can arrange elective rotations abroad if desired aacom.org. The school also provides academic support services such as tutoring, faculty mentoring, and counseling to help students succeed aacom.org.

Potential Questions to Ask at the Interview

• The Knoxville campus has extensive simulation facilities (including eight high-fidelity simulation labs) lmunet.edu. How do students utilize these resources during their pre-clinical training, and how often do they get to practice in the sim labs?
• Community engagement is a big part of LMU-DCOM’s mission. What opportunities do students have to serve the Appalachian or Knoxville community during medical school (e.g., health fairs, free clinics, outreach programs)?
• International rotations are mentioned as an option for students aacom.org. Could you share examples of recent international rotation experiences, or how the school helps students set up global health electives?
• I noticed LMU-DCOM offers a DO/MBA dual degree aacom.org. How do students in the dual degree program balance the additional coursework, and what kind of career pathways have past DO/MBA graduates pursued?
• What kind of support does LMU-DCOM provide for students in terms of academic assistance or mentorship? For instance, are there tutoring programs or faculty mentors that help students prepare for boards and rotations?

Given LMU-DCOM’s focus on serving underserved areas, awareness of certain healthcare policy issues can be useful during interviews. In conversations, you might be asked about or choose to discuss broader challenges in healthcare that tie into the school’s mission. Some relevant topics include:

• Physician shortages in rural and underserved communities – LMU-DCOM’s mission is a direct response to the lack of doctors in Appalachia aacom.org, a region that faces provider shortages and significant health disparities. Nationwide, there is a well-documented doctor shortage, especially in primary care and in underserved areas axios.com.
• Rural hospital closures and healthcare access – More than 75% of rural hospitals in Tennessee are at high risk of closure in the next few years beckershospitalreview.com. These closures are largely due to financial strains from uncompensated care (many patients without insurance), and they threaten access to care in rural communities. This situation highlights the need for new physicians committed to practicing in underserved and rural areas.
• Primary care and preventive health initiatives – As an osteopathic school prioritizing holistic care, LMU-DCOM aligns with national efforts to strengthen primary care and preventive medicine. Bolstering primary care services is seen as vital to improving health outcomes and addressing physician workforce shortages axios.com.
• State healthcare policy context – Tennessee’s decision not to expand Medicaid has left many low-income residents without coverage apnews.com. This contributes to high uncompensated care burdens on hospitals and clinics. Such policy factors often frame discussions about caring for uninsured patients and underscore the importance of community health programs and advocacy in the region.

Like many medical schools, LMU-DCOM takes a holistic view of applicants. Beyond academics (GPA and MCAT), the admissions committee evaluates a range of personal attributes and experiences to determine if you’re a good fit aacom.org. They look for evidence that you have the character and background suited to their mission and the osteopathic profession. Some of the key non-academic factors include:

• Clinical exposure to osteopathic medicine: demonstrating a firsthand understanding of the DO profession (e.g., physician shadowing or work experience) aacom.org.
• Community service and volunteerism: a track record of serving others, especially in underserved or rural communities, consistent with LMU-DCOM’s service-oriented mission aacom.org.
• Research and scholarly engagement: involvement in research projects or other academic pursuits. While not explicitly required, such experience can showcase curiosity and a commitment to the scientific foundation of medicine (indeed, interviewers have asked about research during interviews) studentdoctor.net.
• Leadership and teamwork: evidence of taking initiative and working well in group settings (for example, leading a team, student organization, or community project). This demonstrates strong communication and interpersonal skills, qualities that are valued in physicians aacom.org studentdoctor.net.
• Personal attributes: qualities such as compassion, empathy, resilience, and integrity. LMU-DCOM expressly seeks students who are “inquisitive, intuitive, and compassionate,” with a “desire to serve others in underserved areas” aacom.org. Through your experiences and demeanor, showing that you possess these traits will reinforce your alignment with the school’s values.

LMU-DCOM’s curriculum and evaluation methods are informed by established medical education competencies. Being aware of these frameworks can help you appreciate what the program expects students to develop during their training. In turn, understanding them can provide insight into the qualities and skills you might want to convey during your interview (through examples from your past). Notable competency frameworks include:

• Osteopathic Core Competencies – The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) defines seven core competencies for osteopathic physicians: Osteopathic Philosophy & OMM, Medical Knowledge, Patient Care, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Professionalism, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, and Systems-Based Practice lmunet.edu. LMU-DCOM’s training is designed to cultivate all of these areas. An awareness of this can remind you to highlight experiences that touch on, for example, your communication skills or understanding of osteopathic principles.
• Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and UME Competencies – LMU-DCOM, like other schools, is aligning with the new common set of foundational competencies for undergraduate medical education co-developed by AACOM, AAMC, and ACGME aacom.org. These competencies (often framed as core “entrustable” activities that a new graduate should be able to perform) cover clinical skills, professionalism, teamwork, and other essential domains. The program’s curriculum is structured to ensure students progress toward competence in these areas by graduation, which ultimately improves the transition to residency.
• Pre-medical and interpersonal competencies – Even before entering medical school, candidates are expected to exhibit certain core qualities (articulated by organizations like the AAMC), such as service orientation, cultural competence, teamwork, and ethical responsibility. LMU-DCOM’s selection criteria reflect these ideals aacom.org. During the interview, you may find opportunities to demonstrate these foundational traits – for example, describing a time you collaborated on a team or showing how you’ve served your community – since they align with what the program values in future physicians.

Every interview is unique, but many share common themes. At LMU-DCOM (Knoxville), the questions tend to cover familiar ground in order to understand your motivations, character, and fit for the school. Knowing these themes in advance can help you reflect on relevant experiences and topics (without memorizing scripted answers). Based on reports from past interviewees, here are some recurring themes and examples of questions:

• Motivation for osteopathic medicine and LMU-DCOM – Almost every interview will include an inquiry into why you want to be a physician, why you are drawn to osteopathic medicine, and why specifically LMU-DCOM. Be prepared for a prompt such as, "Why medicine, and why osteopathic medicine at LMU-DCOM?" studentdoctor.net. Interviewers want to see that you understand the DO philosophy and have a genuine interest in their program’s mission and opportunities.
• Personal background and experiences – Expect broad, open-ended prompts such as "Tell me about yourself." studentdoctor.net This question gives you the chance to provide an overview of your journey and highlight key experiences that have prepared you for medical school. Interviewers may also ask about specific activities on your application (for instance, "I see you did research in undergrad – what was that experience like?") or other significant involvements like leadership roles or volunteer service, in order to learn what you gained from them.
• Strengths, challenges, and personal qualities – Many questions aim to gauge your self-awareness and resilience. For example, you might be asked, "What is one thing you’re proudest about?" studentdoctor.net or to discuss a challenge or failure you’ve faced. One past candidate reported being asked what they looked forward to most in medical school and what they feared might be most challenging. Similarly, "How do you manage stress?" was a direct question posed in some interviews studentdoctor.net. These queries let you demonstrate maturity, coping strategies, and the ability to learn from difficult experiences.
• Ethical or clinical scenario questions – Occasionally, you may encounter a hypothetical scenario to see how you reason through a situation as a future physician. For instance, one reported question was, "As a family medicine doctor, in what situations might you refer a patient to another doctor?" studentdoctor.net. In responding to such questions, interviewers are looking at your ethical reasoning and understanding of professional boundaries, not specific medical knowledge.
• Personality and interests – Interviewers often ask a few questions to get to know you beyond your resume. Don’t be surprised by prompts like, "What are your hobbies?" or "What was the last book you read?" studentdoctor.net. These lighter questions help humanize the conversation and allow you to showcase interests or personal achievements outside of medicine, contributing to a more well-rounded impression of you.

LMU-DCOM participates in the AACOMAS application process and uses rolling admissions, which means early applicants have a timing advantage. Below are the key dates and deadlines for the 2025-2026 application cycle:

• AACOMAS Primary Application Opens – May 5, 2025. This is the first day you can submit your AACOMAS primary application for the 2025-2026 cycle aacom.org.
• Primary Application Deadline – June 12, 2026. This is the final date to submit the primary application to LMU-DCOM (Knoxville) via AACOMAS lmunet.edu. The admissions office strongly encourages applying well before this deadline (at least four weeks early, by May 2026) due to the rolling admission process lmunet.edu.
• Secondary Application – June 2025 onward. LMU-DCOM sends its supplemental (secondary) application to all applicants who meet the primary deadline aacom.org. The secondary application typically becomes available by early June 2025. It includes a $50 processing fee (automatically waived if you received an AACOMAS fee waiver). It’s best to submit the secondary promptly, as your file won’t be reviewed for an interview until the secondary is completed.
• Interview Season – September 2025 to June 2026. Interviews take place on a rolling basis during this period lmunet.edu. Each invited applicant has a single 20-minute interview with one faculty or staff member, conducted in a closed-file format lmunet.edu. Interviews traditionally occur in person at the Knoxville campus (though virtual options may be used as needed). Since interview slots fill up, earlier applicants not only get earlier interviews but also more available seats.
• Admissions Decisions – Rolling notifications. After your interview, the Admissions Committee typically deliberates and issues a decision within a few weeks. Outcomes include acceptance, rejection, or placement on the waitlist. LMU-DCOM does not accept everyone they interview (so a rejection is possible), but they also utilize a waitlist of around 100 candidates for those who are competitive but not initially accepted forums.studentdoctor.net. Historically, a significant number of waitlisted applicants (several dozen) may be admitted as spots open up closer to matriculation. If you are accepted, you will be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit to hold your seat. LMU-DCOM follows AACOM’s traffic guideline dates for deposit deadlines (e.g. offers made before January have a 30-day response window; offers made in Feb–Mar have 14 days; offers in April or later may require a deposit in 7 days) aacom.org.
• Matriculation – July 2026. The academic year begins in July. For the incoming Class of 2026, orientation is scheduled around mid-July (approximately July 13, 2026) aacom.org, and classes start shortly thereafter. By this date, students must have completed all pre-matriculation requirements (such as immunizations, transcripts, and any outstanding conditions of acceptance).

Preparing for an LMU-DCOM (Knoxville) interview involves more than practicing responses – it means understanding the school and the context of its mission. In this guide, we examined how the interview is conducted, the ethos and goals of the program, its curriculum and opportunities, and the healthcare needs it strives to address. We also reviewed what qualities the school looks for in applicants and the kinds of questions that past interviewees have encountered. By using these insights to reflect on your own motivations and experiences, you can approach your interview with confidence. Showing that you appreciate LMU-DCOM’s values and demonstrating your fit with its mission will leave a strong impression as you take this next step toward a career in osteopathic medicine.