What does it take to stand out and become a competitive applicant to Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM), and what makes this program unique among osteopathic medical schools?

In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Accepted consultant and podcast host Dr. Valerie Wherley speaks with Dr. Alesia Wagner, associate dean of academic affairs at TUCOM. Together, they explore how the school’s mission shapes its curriculum, how its 100% residency match rate reflects the breadth of specialty opportunities available to students, and how TUCOM’s approach to clinical education prepares future osteopathic physicians for a wide range of medical careers.

Learn about TUCOM’s pre-clinical electives that allow students to explore topics such as LGBTQIA+ healthcare and wilderness medicine, as well as its unique Culinary Medicine program that integrates nutrition education throughout the curriculum. According to Dr. Wagner, TUCOM students have developed pre-clinical electives that were so well-received the faculty adopted them into the permanent curriculum. 

However, TUCOM offers a medical education that extends far beyond the classroom. For example, Dr. Wagner shares that the school’s student-run free clinic attracts patients across the insurance spectrum. Even fully insured patients reportedly return specifically for osteopathic manipulative treatment, which they cannot find elsewhere in the community. 

Dr. Wagner also discusses what admissions committees really look for when reviewing osteopathic medical school applications. She notes that admissions readers can sometimes see past polished applications and that AI-generated essay responses are, in her words, “obvious.”

In addition, the conversation covers some of the school’s impressive statistics: TUCOM has never failed to match a student who wanted to pursue neurosurgery, and 81% of students receive their first-choice clinical rotation site through a lottery system. 

If you are researching osteopathic medical schools or preparing your application, this conversation provides valuable insight into what sets TUCOM apart and what it takes to be a competitive applicant.

Related Resources

• Bio for Dr. Alesia Wagner
• Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Touro’s Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Clinic at Middletown
• TUCOM Academics

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