About
Why IllinoisCOM
Filling a Need
The Chicago School has long promoted integrated health and wellness, focusing on the idea that there is no health without mental health. An expansion into osteopathic medicine further supports the university’s ambition of meeting the healthcare needs of local communities by training and graduating a diverse workforce.
Nationally, there is a deficit of qualified physicians to meet the healthcare needs of communities. The United States has a projected shortage of up to 48,000 primary care physicians by 2034.
There is also an increase urgent call to diversify the physician workforce so communities have access to providers who mirror their unique identities and values.
By developing the proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine (IllinoisCOM), The Chicago School aims to:
- Provide a sustainable pipeline of qualified physicians for communities in need.
- Diversify future generations of healthcare providers.
- Equip future osteopathic physicians with the tools to identify, treat, and manage behavioral health conditions is a proven approach for quality care.
Last updated 7/5/24
Accreditation
The Chicago School’s proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine (IllinoisCOM) was granted candidate status from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) in April 2024 and is currently seeking pre-accreditation, which represents the third stage of COCA’s four-stage accreditation process.
The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) serves the public by establishing, maintaining, and applying accreditation standards and procedures to ensure that academic quality and continuous quality improvement delivered by the colleges of osteopathic medicine, which reflects the evolving practice of osteopathic medicine. The scope of the COCA encompasses the accreditation of the colleges of osteopathic medicine.
More information about COCA accreditation is available here. You may contact the Department of Accreditation at:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (312) 202-8124
Address: COCA, c/o AOA, 142 E. Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611-2864
For information regarding the proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic degree at The Chicago School please contact our team at:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 312.467.2393
Future Preceptors and Faculty
Join the Chicago School community as a preceptor or future faculty member at the proposed IllinoisCOM, where your expertise can shape the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I start applying to the proposed IllinoisCOM?
The proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine has received Candidate Status from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and cannot recruit students at this time. Please check back for further information at a future date.
What is the relationship of the proposed IllinoisCOM to The Chicago School?
The proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of four colleges with The Chicago School, a leading non-profit university educating mental and behavioral health professionals since 1979.
Will the proposed IllinoisCOM be in-person or virtual?
As all medical schools throughout the country, instruction and training takes place primarily in-person. The Chicago School is building a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood that will facilitate dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities for its future medical students.
What programs will be available at the proposed IllinoisCOM?
Pending regulatory approvals, the proposed IllinoisCOM will offer a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program when it opens.
Is the proposed IllinoisCOM accredited?
The Chicago School is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The proposed IllinoisCOM’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree is currently in Candidate Status with the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and cannot recruit students at this time.
Where is the proposed IllinoisCOM located?
The campus will be located at 400 S. Jefferson St., Chicago, IL 60607. Construction is underway, with the goal of opening the facility in 2026.
Proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine Leadership
John Lucas, DO, serves as Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer for the proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at The Chicago School. Dr. Lucas joined The Chicago School in February 2023, and he is responsible for creating and operationalizing the proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine in Chicago, IL.
In his immediate past role, he served as Senior Vice President for institutional advancement and administration at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). Dr. Lucas also served as Interim Campus Dean at VCOM-Auburn campus. Dr. Lucas supervised VCOM’s graduate medical education and academic clinical practices and his job responsibilities included overseeing strategic goal fulfillment and special projects.
Dr. Lucas also served as the Chief Executive Officer of ViaSTAR, the VCOM for-profit subsidiary for intellectual property development and simulation program outreach to clinical and academic partners. Previously, Dr. Lucas served as the Division Vice President of graduate medical education (GME) in the South Atlantic Division of HCA Healthcare, building more than 21 new residency training programs in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida during his time with the company.
Dr. Lucas is a board-certified emergency medicine physician with extensive clinical and administrative experience, serving as an attending emergency medicine physician at the Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia, medical director and chief in the emergency department and medical director in hospitalist medicine at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center in Christiansburg, Virginia. Dr. Lucas has also served in several educational roles at clinics including emergency department education director and director of osteopathic medical education at Carilion Medical Center.
In his undergraduate studies, Dr. Lucas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology/biology from James Madison University. He played football at James Madison, serving as a long snapper on special teams. Dr. Lucas earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO) from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. After graduating, he served in a rotating internship at Metro Health Center Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania. Lucas undertook his emergency medicine residency training at Lehigh Valley Health System in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Christopher A. Reeder, DO, serves as the Sr. Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs for the proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Reeder joined the Chicago School in July 2023.
In his immediate past role, he served as Dean of the UAG School of Medicine and Dean of International Affairs at UAG. He also served on the Board of Directors at UAG. His responsibilities included leadership and administration of the International School of Medicine with 1300 US medical students. His office had direct oversight of Faculty Affairs, Education, Research, Clinical Affairs, Fiduciary responsibility, and Institutional Strategic Planning.
Dr. Reeder held numerous osteopathic leadership roles including President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, Board of Directors of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, and Board of Directors of the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery.
He is also a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing for 30 years instructing medical students and residents. He was an active Clinical Associate Professor at 2 medical schools. During this time, Dr. Reeder became CEO and owner of a large Dermatology/Plastic Surgery practice.
Educationally, Dr. Reeder graduated from the NY College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a General Surgery Residency in NY and a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency in Des Moines, Iowa.
Today, he and his wife host the Reeder Foundation; dedicated to charitable endeavors and advancement of educational scholarships in the STEM fields.
Monica Kinde, PhD, MS, serves as the Senior Associate Dean of Pre-Clinical Affairs for the proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Chicago School. Dr. Kinde joined The Chicago School in July 2023 and is largely responsible for overseeing the development, delivery, assessment, and evaluation of the pre-clinical curriculum for the proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Most recently, Dr. Kinde served as Assistant Dean of Student Success and Interim Associate Dean of Curriculum and Integrated Learning at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. In these roles, she worked across academic and student affairs to develop and evaluate curriculum, policy and programming that championed the integrated and holistic education of the next generations of Osteopathic physicians. As an Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Course Director, and Phase I Curriculum Director, she contributed to student learning, developed coursework, and led efforts to continuously evaluate student learning outcomes.
As an inaugural faculty member of the Farber-McIntire Campus of KCU-COM in Joplin, MO, Dr. Kinde contributed key efforts to initial and ongoing programmatic and institutional accreditation awarded through the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and the Higher Learning Commission.
Dr. Kinde is a Costin Scholar of the Costin Institute for Osteopathic Medical Educators at Midwestern University, a National Faculty Member for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners and graduate of the KCU Leadership Academy.
Dr. Kinde completed her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Chemistry at Missouri State University, where she used solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to gain insight into the recognition and repair of oxidatively damaged DNA. She continued her work in solid-state NMR and computational chemistry at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where she earned her PhD in Physical Chemistry in 2012. After graduating, she continued her training as a Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. There she worked in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Structural Biology to elucidate the structure-function relationship of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels to better understand the role these human neuronal channels play in the mechanism of anesthesia.
James Colquitt, PhD, RRT-ACCS, is the Associate Dean for Research and Clinical Simulation. In his current role, Dr. Colquitt works with osteopathic medical students and clinical professionals to hone their clinical abilities, communication skills, and crisis response through simulations. He is spearheading the integration of AI, VR, and other technologies into the curriculum.
Dr. Colquitt is also establishing a research program that provides students and faculty opportunities to study the interconnection of physical and mental health to support holistic human health. Through relationships within the Chicago School and throughout the greater TCS Education System community, Dr. Colquitt seeks to create a highly productive research program which will make a lasting impact on the communities being served.
Before joining his current position, Dr. Colquitt held several notable roles in medical education and administration. He served as an Assistant Dean for Simulation Technology and Competency Based Education at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Louisiana, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Mercer University School of Medicine, Designated Institutional Official in a new residency program, Chair of the Institutional Review Board of a large health system, and Director of Clinical Education in Respiratory Therapy.
Throughout his career, Dr. Colquitt has made significant contributions to his field. With an extensive academic background, he has been impactful in his local community, where he successfully connected research with academic practice on a modest budget. He has published in the areas of resuscitation team training, Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (Team-STEPPS), and mastery learning. His work currently focuses on building student-generated research programs to provide more fundamental research experience for medical students.
Dr. Colquitt’s educational background includes a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Georgia College and State University and a PhD in Workforce Education from the University of Georgia. His combination of academic expertise and practical experience in medical education and research positions him well to lead innovative programs in clinical simulation and research.
William T. Maddy (Tom) serves as the Director for Graduate Medical Education for the Proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine. Tom joined the Chicago School in February 2024.
In his immediate past role, he served as Director for Graduate Medical Education at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. In this role, he was responsible for developing new ACGME residency and fellowships programs, managing a consortium of established residency and fellowship programs, and pursuing osteopathic recognition for interested programs. Previously, he served in a variety of Graduate Medical Education administrative roles for Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA.
Tom has over thirty years of experience in Graduate Medical Education in all levels of administration that includes over thirteen years of experiences developing new GME programs and supporting existing programs as a representative of a College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Our President
Michele Nealon, Psy.D., has been leading The Chicago School with dynamic vision since 2010. An alumna of The Chicago School herself as well as a former faculty member and dean, she brings more than two decades of experience and innovation in higher education to the proposed IllinoisCOM.
Meet the Executive Cabinet
The proposed IIlinoisCOM’s executive cabinet is comprised of professionals with wide-ranging experience in health care and integrative health. Working closely with Dr. Nealon, these passionate and dedicated leaders ensure our graduates will be highly qualified physicians eager to provide comprehensive health care across the U.S.
Meet the Executive Cabinet
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is dedicated to advancing the mission and vision of the proposed IllinoisCOM. They are professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds who offer their expertise and oversight, guiding the strategic development of the college and ensuring a positive student experience.