Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) is expanding its impact with the opening of a new campus in Orange Park, Florida. The application cycle began this May for the first cohort of students who will be welcomed to the new campus in the fall of 2026. With the signing of Chapter 2025-114, Laws of Florida, by Gov. Ron DeSantis in early June, LMU-DCOM is officially recognized as a Florida medical school by statute. The expansion is a pivotal step in LMU-DCOM’s mission to combat Florida’s critical shortage of primary care physicians by providing top-tier medical education and forging strong community partnerships across the state.
As the first four-year medical school in the greater Jacksonville area, LMU-DCOM at Orange Park will serve as a vital resource in addressing the state’s health care workforce crisis. The new campus is designed to meet the region’s growing needs by offering a rigorous full-time academic and clinical program identical to its sister campuses in Harrogate and Knoxville, Tennessee. Graduates will earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, and upon graduation, they will be prepared to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in a variety of medical settings.
The need for medical professionals in Florida is pressing. According to the Florida Medical Association, about 98 percent of doctors providing direct patient care work in urban counties, leaving only 2 percent to serve the state’s 31 rural counties. Data also shows nearly one-third of Floridians live in areas without adequate primary care services. Dr. James Toldi, campus dean for LMU-DCOM at Orange Park, emphasized how this expansion directly aligns with the institution’s mission to serve communities in need.
"We are growing partnerships with local physicians and clinics to educate the next generation of physicians to live, train and then work in the community to ease the burden of the looming physician shortages in Florida, and particularly Clay, Putnam, St. Johns, Duval and Nassau Counties,” he said. “We want to place students in the areas of greatest patient needs so they can learn to appreciate the care these populations need. We aim to be great partners in the community, driving economic and health prosperity for our neighbors.”
This strategic expansion underscores LMU’s ongoing commitment to broadening educational opportunities and strengthening communities. LMU President Dr. Jason McConnell highlighted how the Orange Park campus is a key milestone in the university’s growth and long-term vision.
"The establishment of LMU-DCOM in Orange Park represents an exciting new chapter for Lincoln Memorial University. As our institution continues to expand, we remain dedicated to our mission of delivering high-caliber medical education while strengthening the communities we serve,” McConnell explained. “By bringing a full-scale medical school to Northeast Florida, we are not only creating new opportunities for aspiring physicians but also helping to improve health care access and economic development in the region. This campus is a testament to our commitment to growth, service and excellence."
Florida officials have also acknowledged the significance of LMU-DCOM at Orange Park in tackling the state’s ongoing health care challenges. Florida Representative Sam Garrison and State Senator Jennifer Bradley have been strong advocates for expanding medical education in Northeast Florida and have each supported LMU-DCOM’s efforts to establish the Orange Park campus as a solution to the region’s growing physician shortage.
"Addressing the physician shortage in Florida requires innovative solutions and proactive partnerships,” Garrison noted. “The introduction of LMU-DCOM's campus in Orange Park is a monumental development that will enhance our local health care infrastructure and ensure that our communities have access to the quality care they deserve. This is an important step toward strengthening our health care system, particularly in underserved areas."
Projections from the Florida Medical Association estimate a shortfall of nearly 17,000 physicians by 2035. Many of the hardest-hit regions are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), particularly in primary care fields such as family medicine, general internal medicine and pediatrics. Expanding medical education within the state is a key initiative in addressing this growing crisis. Senator Bradley emphasized the significance of localized medical education in solving Florida’s long-term health care workforce issues.
"The expansion of LMU-DCOM into Orange Park is a timely and much-needed response to the health care challenges facing our region. By training future physicians within our community, we are taking a critical step toward ensuring that Floridians, particularly in underserved areas, have access to essential medical services,” she said. “A medical school of this caliber will not only provide education and training opportunities but also contribute to the overall well-being of Northeast Florida."
The upcoming application cycle for LMU-DCOM opened on May 4, 2025, through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). Prospective students can apply to the Orange Park campus for matriculation in late July 2026. AACOMAS simplifies the application process by allowing candidates to submit a single application to multiple osteopathic medical schools.
For more information about LMU-DCOM at Orange Park and the application process, please contact the LMU-DCOM Admissions Office at 1.800.325.0900 ext. 7090 or email dcomadmissions@LMUnet.edu.
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, at LMU-Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee, and at LMU-DCOM in Orange Park, Florida. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often-underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7082, email dcom@LMUnet.edu, or visit us online at http://med.LMUnet.edu.
