Dr. Travis Engel, Chair of Pediatrics at Centra, was appointed as the National Chair of Pediatrics for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) on January 6, 2025.
A 2018 Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) graduate, Dr. Engel is a pediatric clinical faculty member for the program and serves as the Chair of Pediatric Medicine for Centra Medical Group in Lynchburg. He has been a member of the NBOME National Faculty since 2019, most recently participating in the Residency Readiness Index — Pediatrics Focus Group. Before his role at Centra, Dr. Engel completed his fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital and his pediatric residency at Advocate Children’s Hospital.
NBOME is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides competency assessments for osteopathic medical licensure and related healthcare professions.
Dr. Engel explains the structure of the medical school testing process: "Future physicians complete the first two years of medical school before taking the first step of their licensing exam. At the end of their third year, they take the second step, and during their first or second year of residency, they take the final step."
He continued, “NBOME is responsible for writing these exams to evaluate the competency of future and current physicians, ultimately protecting the public.”
In addition to his new role as Chair of Pediatrics at NBOME, Dr. Engel serves as the Faculty Chair for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. He oversees the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test (COMAT), a subtest that evaluates third-year medical students' competency in pediatric and adolescent care.
While Dr. Engel contributes nationally, he remains committed to teaching and mentoring future generations of medical students locally. He is an active faculty member at LUCOM.
“It’s very unique that the Lynchburg area has a medical center that hosts students who are learning the most up-to-date research and training,” Dr. Engel said. “I believe patients truly get better care when they have a large team of people around them who are truly invested in their case and providing the best care possible.”
Centra values Dr. Engel’s dedication to updating national pediatric testing materials according to the latest research and his local commitment to mentoring medical students during their training at Centra.
“The partnership between Centra and LUCOM has never been stronger. I look forward to continuing this momentum and bridging the gap between both institutions,” Dr. Engel concluded.
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