Inside the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific: A DO School That Trains Holistic Physicians [Episode 625]

Send us your admissions questions!What exactly is—and isn’t—a DO? And what does it take to get into a Tier 1 primary care medical school that operates across two very different campuses?In this episode of Accepted’s Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with the leadership and a current student from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) at Western University of Health Sciences. Dr. Lisa Warren, the dean and a COMP graduate; Dr. Marcel Fraix, associate dean for admissions and also a COMP graduate; TJ Pe, assistant director of recruitment; and Sarah Shirley, a rising second-year COMP DO student, walk listeners through what makes this program distinctive.The conversation covers the school’s two-campus structure—urban Pomona, California, and rural Lebanon, Oregon—and how the shared curriculum delivers a consistent experience in two very different environments. COMP has now earned U.S. News & World Report’s Tier 1 recognition for primary care training for three consecutive years, and the panel breaks down why that matters for applicants.Sarah shares her nontraditional path: a literature degree, a career in book publishing, a mid-20s pivot, and what drew her to osteopathic medicine specifically. The panel also discusses COMP’s longitudinal student tracks (business, rural health, sports medicine, and more), the technology-infused curriculum including simulation and AI exposure, and the robust student wellness infrastructure—from free yoga to open-door faculty.For applicants concerned about GPA and MCAT thresholds, Dr. Fraix and TJ offer a candid, encouraging reality check on holistic admissions and the one-year master’s program that creates a pathway for promising candidates who don’t yet meet full admission requirements.Related Resources:College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) at Western University of Health SciencesExperience WesternU (preview day): August 22, 2026Dr. Lisa Warren, dean, Western University of Health Sciences COMP and COMP-Northwest: [email protected]. Marcel Fraix, associate dean, admissions and enrollment chair, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation: [email protected] Pe, assistant director of recruitment: [email protected] UsYouTubeFacebookLinkedInContact [email protected]+1 (310) 815-9553