William Travis Engel, D.O., M.S.C., FAAP

Dr. Engel was born and raised in Texas and first worked as a firefighter and flight paramedic before ultimately pursuing a career in medicine as a non-traditional applicant. He is the first in his family to graduate from college and he is a proud graduate of the inaugural class from Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in pediatrics in Chicago, IL after which he did an additional year of pediatric critical care training in Kansas City, MO. He currently holds the department chair position for pediatric and adolescent medicine for Central Medical Group in Virginia. His research interests include human factors in decision making, just culture, and collaborative leadership within physician led healthcare team models.

Courses Teaching:

• Pediatric lecture content within the department of Primary Care.

Professional Affiliations and Awards:

• Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
• National Faculty for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine with the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME)
• National Faculty Chair for the COMAT Pediatrics Exam with the NBOME
• American Association of Physician Leaders
• Board member of the Lynchburg Academy of Medicine
• Associate Chair of the Provider Professionalism Committee for Central Medical Group
• Associate Medical Director for pediatrics with the Lynchburg Fire Department

Community Attributes:

• Dr. Engel is active in his community filling many volunteer roles. He is a youth athletic coach for his son’s wrestling team and his daughter’s lacrosse team. He is actively involved in multisport activities and completed sprint, Olympic, and middle-distance triathlons.

Research/Areas of Interest:

• Human factors in decision making
• Just Culture
• Physician leadership and coaching
• Pediatric Critical Care and Hospitalist Medicine
• Communication and relationship building within communities of vaccine hesitancy
• Equitable access to healthcare for at risk populations
• High stakes evaluation and examination of medical trainees
• Artificial intelligence in healthcare education and clinical medicine delivery