Lincoln Memorial University–DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) earned high national marks in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report medical school rankings, with two distinctions placing the institution at the top among all Tennessee medical schools.
LMU-DCOM ranked:
The state-leading rankings in rural practice and primary care underscore LMU-DCOM’s mission-driven focus on educating physicians who serve communities most in need, particularly in rural and underserved regions of Tennessee and across the nation.
“LMU-DCOM was founded to address physician shortages in rural and underserved communities, and these rankings show that our graduates are fulfilling that mission at a level unmatched by other medical schools in Tennessee,” said Dr. Christopher Loyke, dean and chief academic officer. “We are especially proud to lead the state in placing physicians in rural areas and primary care, where access to health care remains a critical challenge.”
The U.S. News & World Report medical school rankings measure where graduates practice after completing training, with particular attention to primary care, rural medicine, and federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. These indicators are widely recognized as benchmarks for how well medical schools contribute to meeting national and regional health care workforce needs.
LMU-DCOM’s emphasis on community-based education, rural clinical experiences, and service-oriented training has consistently attracted students committed to practicing in areas with limited access to care. Graduates now serve patients throughout Tennessee, Appalachia, and rural and underserved communities nationwide.
The 2026 rankings further reinforce LMU-DCOM’s position as a national leader in preparing physicians for primary care and rural practice.
About LMU-DCOM
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, and at LMU-Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee. 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.
