The Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at The Chicago School (IllinoisCOM) is a new osteopathic medical school in Chicago, Illinois — a college of The Chicago School. It holds COCA Pre-Accreditation status and enrolls its inaugural class in Fall 2026; no students have matriculated yet. Positioned as an urban DO program in one of America's largest and most medically complex cities, it draws on Chicago's stark health disparities — particularly between its affluent North Side and underserved South and West Side communities — for a training context emphasizing equity, community health, and whole-person care within a large urban health system.
What makes it different
Applications via AACOMAS. IllinoisCOM — a college of The Chicago School — is one of very few DO programs in a major US metropolis (most DO schools are in suburban or rural settings) and is Chicago's first new medical school in nearly a century. With COCA Pre-Accreditation and an inaugural class beginning Fall 2026, its Chicago location is intended to provide clinical rotation access to major teaching hospitals, FQHCs, and diverse patient populations across one of the country's most health-disparate urban environments.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year DO curriculum integrating OMM throughout with a Chicago-specific urban health curriculum. Years 1–2 at the Chicago campus; Years 3–4 clinical rotations at Chicago-area hospital systems and community health centers, with particular emphasis on underserved neighborhoods.
Research strengths
Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at The Chicago School (DO) has notable research strength in Urban health disparities, Community-based medicine, Osteopathic manipulative medicine, Social determinants of health.
Interview
Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at The Chicago School (DO) interviews via Traditional interview with faculty and students. ILCOM conducts interview days at its Chicago campus, with sessions structured around one-on-one or small-panel conversations with faculty physicians and current students. As a newer school in a major urban center, ILCOM interviewers probe candidates' ability to connect osteopathic philosophy with urban health equity themes — Chicago's health disparities between North and South Side communities are frequently contextualised. Expect questions about community health, health systems navigation in a large city, and why osteopathic medicine specifically in an urban environment.
Intake
Approximately 100–130 students per year.
At a glance
Founded in 2026, based in Chicago, IL. Programmes offered: Primary Care, Urban Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Family Medicine, Community Health.
