EDWARD VIA VIRGINIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
2265 KRAFT DRIVE, BLACKSBURG, VA 24060 www.vcom.edu

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF THE EDWARD VIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE IS TO PREPARE GLOBALLY-MINDED, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED PHYSICIANS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF RURAL AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND PROMOTE RESEARCH TO IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH.

TO PROVIDE OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL EDUCATION, OUTREACH OR MEDICAL SERVICES AND RESEARCH THAT PREPARES PHYSICIANS WHO WILL PROMOTE HUMAN HEALTH IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS.

VCOM IS AN OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE GUIDED BY A MISSION THAT WILL PRODUCE THE PHYSICIANS THIS COUNTRY NEEDS. EDUCATION VCOM IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE. IN 2003, VCOM OPENED ITS DOORS WITH A DEDICATION OF PURPOSE TO SOLVE THE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE IN THE SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE LIVING IN RURAL AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS. SINCE THEN, THE VISION HAS EXPANDED TO THE RURAL AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN AND DELTA REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH VCOM CAMPUSES NOW INCLUDING VIRGINIA, CAROLINAS, ALABAMA; AND A FOURTH CAMPUS IN MONROE LOUISIANA OPENED IN JULY 2020. THE COLLEGES MULTIPLE, DISTINCT CAMPUSES SHARE ONE COMMON MISSION: TO GRADUATE COMMUNITY-FOCUSED, GLOBALLY MINDED OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE RURAL AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND TO PROVIDE RESEARCH TO IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH. THE MISSION REMAINS THE HEART AND SOUL OF VCOM, AND IS SHARED BY THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. AS A MEDICAL SCHOOL, VCOM CONTINUES TO MAKE EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS TOWARDS IMPROVING HEALTHCARE IN RURAL AMERICA THOUGH THE WORK OF STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND RESEARCH. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS YEAR ARE LANDMARK STEPS IN EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PHYSICIANS. VCOM HAS NOW GRADUATED OVER 3,600 PHYSICIANS, WITH MORE THAN 65% OF OUR ALUMNI WORKING IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WHILE VCOM HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE LARGEST MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY, EACH CAMPUS MAINTAINS THE FEEL OF A SMALL PRIVATE COLLEGE FOR THE STUDENT, WITH DEDICATED FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY, STATE, AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED REGION THAT CAMPUS SERVES. IN ADDITION TO SO MANY VCOM GRADUATES CHOOSING TO WORK IN UNDERSERVED AREAS, VCOM PROUDLY BOASTS THAT ITS TUITION IS AMONG THE LOWEST FOR PRIVATE MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY. A MOST RECENT TUITION AND FEES SURVEY REFLECTS THAT VCOM IS 5TH LOWEST IN TUITION OF ALL PRIVATE COM SCHOOLS. ADDITIONALLY, IT IS RANKED 6TH LOWEST FOR OUT-OF-STATE TUITION, EVEN WHEN PUBLIC COMS ARE ADDED TO CONSIDERATION. VCOM DOES NOT CHARGE AN OUT-OF-STATE FEE FOR ANY CAMPUS. THESE RATINGS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT VCOM PROVIDES HEALTH INSURANCE AND OTHER SERVICES TO THEIR STUDENTS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THEM. VCOMS MISSION ACTS AS THE COLLEGES COMPASS, GUIDING US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. A RURAL AND UNDERSERVED DIRECTION. FROM THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS TO GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE VCOM MISSION FOCUSES ON RURAL AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND IN ALUMNI OUTCOMES. THE COMMITMENT TO RURAL HEALTH IS EVIDENT IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS, WITH 24% OF OUR STUDENTS COMING FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES OF LESS THAN 10,000 AND 48% FROM COMMUNITIES OF LESS THAN 30,000. DIVERSITY OUTCOMES ALSO DEMONSTRATE THIS COMMITMENT. ACROSS THE FOUR CAMPUSES, VCOM IS A LEADER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ENROLLED. FURTHERMORE, VCOM IS #4 IN THE UNITED STATES FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS ENROLLED. PRESENTLY 65% OF VCOM GRADUATES NOW WORK IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES UPON COMPLETION OF RESIDENCY, AND 64% PRACTICE IN A TARGET AREA IN AN APPALACHIAN OR DELTA COUNTY OR CITY. VCOMS PROVEN PHILOSOPHY OF TARGETING RECRUITMENT OF STUDENTS MOST LIKELY TO RETURN TO THE REGIONS OF OUR MISSION, PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE FROM RURAL AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO BECOME PHYSICIANS IN THOSE AREAS. THE COMPASS THAT GUIDES SUCCESS IS THE STRENGTH OF THIS MISSION AND A VISION FOR HEALTHIER APPALACHIAN AND DELTA REGIONS. IT POINTS TO A FUTURE WHERE EVERY PERSON HAS ACCESS TO GOOD MEDICAL CARE AND GOOD HEALTH, REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY LIVE, THEIR DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS OR THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. PURPOSEFUL PUBLIC / PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS VCOMS INITIAL VISION WAS TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND OTHER MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED REGIONS AND THE GREATER APPALACHIAN REGION AND TO PROMOTE JOINT BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH WITH VIRGINIA TECH. UNDER A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN VCOM AND VIRGINIA TECH, THE COLLEGE OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE FIRST STUDENTS IN BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA IN THE FALL OF 2003 AND GRADUATED ITS FIRST CLASS IN 2007. THE VIRGINIA CAMPUS HAS NOW GRADUATED 2,390 PHYSICIANS. IN 2010, VCOM FOUNDED A SECOND CAMPUS IN COLLABORATION WITH SPARTANBURG REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THE HEALTHCARE SHORTAGES IN THE UPSTATE REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE FIRST STUDENTS BEGAN THEIR MEDICAL EDUCATION AT VCOMCAROLINAS IN THE FALL OF 2011, AND THE CAMPUS GRADUATED ITS FIRST CLASS IN 2015. THE COLLEGE HAS THE MOST STUDENTS IN CAROLINAS ENROLLED IN FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCIES. THE CAMPUS HAS GRADUATED OVER 900 PHYSICIANS. AUBURN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION LEARNED OF THE SUCCESS OF THE VCOM/VT COLLABORATION AND THROUGH A PUBLIC/PRIVATE COLLABORATION OPENED A VCOM CAMPUS AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY. VCOM-AUBURN'S INAUGURAL CLASS BEGAN IN 2015 AND GRADUATED IN MAY 2019. VCOM AUBURN HAS OVER 300 GRADUATES TO DATE, WITH A LARGE NUMBER COMMITTED TO PRACTICING WITHIN THE STATE WHEN RESIDENCY IS COMPLETED. IN A COLLABORATIVE PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA-MONROE, VCOM BROKE GROUND ON A NEW CAMPUS IN 2018. THE VCOM-LOUISIANA CAMPUS IS TO ADDRESS THE RURAL PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF THE STATE. LOUISIANA CURRENTLY RANKS 39TH IN THE U.S. FOR PER CAPITA PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PHYSICIANS ARE IN THE URBAN AREAS OF THE SOUTHERN REGION OF THE STATE. THE CAMPUS OPENED IN JULY OF 2020. RECRUITING FOR DIVERSITY VCOM VALUES AND AFFIRMS THAT DIVERSITY CONTRIBUTES RICHNESS TO THE COLLEGE AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION PRODUCING BETTER DOCTORS OVERALL. VCOM RECOGNIZES THE LACK OF MEDICAL CARE AVAILABLE TO MINORITY POPULATIONS AND ACTIVELY RECRUITS MINORITY STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN HEALTHCARE. THE UNITED STATES POPULATION IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIVERSE, AND VCOM SEEKS A STUDENT BODY THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF AN EVER-CHANGING SOCIETY. VCOM HAS INITIATED SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THE STUDENT BODY AND FUTURE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE. VCOM IS PROUD TO HAVE RECEIVED NATIONAL AWARDS FROM MINORITY ACCESS, INC. FOR EIGHT CONSECUTIVE YEARS. QUALITY OUTCOMES WHILE VCOM IS COMMITTED TO THE MISSION AND THE WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS, VCOM IS ALSO COMMITTED TO PRODUCING QUALITY PHYSICIAN GRADUATES. VCOM IS RECOGNIZED ANNUALLY FOR GRADUATES RECEIVING FIRST CHOICE OF RESIDENCY. VCOMS BOARD SCORES ARE BETWEEN 94 AND 99 PERCENT FIRST TIME PASS RATES ON ALL LEVELS OF COMLEX. THIS BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE ATTRITION RATE AT VCOM HAS BEEN LESS THAN 4% EACH YEAR. VCOM FOCUSES ON RECRUITING STUDENTS HIGHLY COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION AND RECIPROCATES WITH A STRONG COMMITTED TO THEIR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS.

RESEARCH: MEDICAL RESEARCH PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR DISCOVERIES THAT WILL BENEFIT HUMAN AND ANIMAL POPULATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. IT CAN ANALYZE DISEASE TRENDS, RISK FACTORS, PROVIDE NEW TREATMENT OPTIONS, DEVELOP NEW MEDICINES, CREATE OR IMPROVE MEDICAL DEVICES, REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS AND PROVIDE NEW DIRECTIONS FOR PATIENT CARE.FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM DISEASE, IN ONE WORD-RESEARCH PROVIDES HOPE. THROUGH CONTINUING COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN EACH CAMPUS AND KEY UNIVERSITIES, VCOM IS POSITIONED TO SOLVE MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE COLLEGE IS EXCITED ABOUT THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF OUR RESEARCH ENTERPRISE WITH THESE PARTNERS. VCOMS COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PARTNERS THROUGH VIRGINIA TECH VCOMS 18-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGINIA TECH HAS RESULTED IN OVER 50 MILLION DOLLARS FOR MULTIPLE JOINT RESEARCH PROGRAMS FUNDED BY NIH, NSF, DOD AND OTHER FEDERAL AND PRIVATE SPONSORS. COLLABORATIONS COVER A VARIETY OF RESEARCH AREAS INCLUDING CUTTING- EDGE TECHNIQUES IN REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE PREVENTION, DRUG DISCOVERY FOR STROKE RECOVERY AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY TREATMENT FOR ATHLETES AND SOLDIERS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETICS AND THE CENTER FOR INJURY BIOMECHANICS, RESEARCH TEAMS BECAME THE FIRST TO EQUIP COLLEGIATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS HELMETS WITH AN ACCELEROMETER ARRAY TO STUDY HEAD IMPACT BIOMECHANICS AND CONCUSSION IN COLLEGIATE FOOTBALL. DATA FROM THIS PROJECT HAS LED TO SEVERAL FEDERALLY-FUNDED AND INDUSTRY SPONSORED RESEARCH PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND HAVE EXPANDED TO ADDITIONAL COLLEGIATE SPORTS. ONE SUCH PROJECT, THE NCAA- DOD GRAND ALLIANCE: CONCUSSION ASSESSMENT, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (CARE) CONSORTIUM, IS NOW A MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM WHOSE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE EVALUATION, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF CONCUSSION. ALSO NOTEWORTHY IS OUR COLLABORATION WITH WAKE FOREST AND BROWN TO STUDY THE BIOMECHANICAL BASIS OF PEDIATRIC SPORT-RELATED CONCUSSION. THE PILOT DATA FROM THE VT, VCOM, WAKE FOREST, AND BROWN COLLABORATION IS A 3-YEAR PROJECT THAT HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT TO THE POP WARNER FOOTBALL RULES, WHICH ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF YOUTH FOOTBALL. NATIONAL SPORTS MEDICINE RESEARCH CONTINUES AT BOTH VCOM VIRGINIA AND VCOM AUBURN CAMPUSES. VCOM SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIANS ARE NATIONALLY KNOWN FOR THEIR RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS WITH SCIENTISTS FROM VIRGINIA TECH IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND THE INSTITUTE FOR CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED SCIENCES, AND WITH THE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING COLLEGE AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY. VCOM FACULTY WILL LEAD THE PROFESSION IN THE PREVENTION, EVALUATION AND INNOVATIVE TREATMENT OF SPORTS INJURIES. CENTER FOR ONE HEALTH: VCOM AND VIRGINIA TECH / VIRGINIA MARYLAND REGIONAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE RESEARCH. THIS INITIATIVE SET FORTH BETWEEN VCOM AND VIRGINIA TECH IN 2015 BEGAN THE CENTER FOR ONE HEALTH RESEARCH. THE CENTER IS A COLLABORATIVE VENTURE BETWEEN VCOM AND THE VIRGINIA MARYLAND REGIONAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE (VMRCVM), INTENDED TO PROMOTE JOINT VCOM-VMRCVM RESEARCH. THE CENTER FACULTY FROM VCOM AND VMRCVM UTILIZE THE RESEARCH FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS. THE ONE HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM HAS NOW BEEN EXPANDED TO THE AUBURN CAMPUS FOR RESEARCH BETWEEN VCOM AND THE AUBURN VETERINARY COLLEGE. VCOM AND SPARTANBURG REGIONAL / GIBBS CANCER RESEARCH CENTER VCOM MAINTAINS A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GIBBS CANCER RESEARCH CENTER WITHIN SPARTANBURG REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON STEM CELL RESEARCH, PRECISION MEDICINE AND CANCER DETECTION TECHNIQUES. IN 2019, VCOM WILL LEAD THE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH THROUGH FURTHER COLLABORATION AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK SUPPORT THROUGH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND OTHER CANCER RESEARCH FUNDERS. THE LATEST PROJECTS ARE POISED TO HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE WAY CANCER IS DIAGNOSED AND TREATED, AND TO HAVE AN IMPACT GLOBALLY FOR LOW TO MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. VCOMS RESEARCH WITH AUBURN UNIVERSITY IN 2015, AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND VCOM DEVELOPED AN OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE CAMPUS THROUGH A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. ONE GOAL OF THIS ALLIANCE IS TO EXPAND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS FROM BOTH INSTITUTIONS. THE PARTNERSHIP, IN ADDITION TO THE ONE HEALTH PROGRAM ABOVE, PROVIDES IMMEDIATE RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS WITH AUBURNS ENGINEERING AND PHARMACY SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS NURSING AND KINESIOLOGY PROGRAMS. TO BUILD A BASE FOR COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS, BOTH PARTNERS HAVE COMMITTED INTERNAL SEED FUNDING FOR PILOT PROJECTS IN AREAS OF INTEREST. THE PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS VCOM AND AUBURN FACULTY ACCESS TO STATE- OF-THE-ART MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE LABORATORY AND THROUGH THE RESEARCH PARK INCLUDING ONE OF THE FEW 7-TESLA MRI SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES. VCOM RESEARCH INITIATIVES THE VCOM BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH INITIATIVES WITHIN THE STRATEGIC PLAN INCLUDE PRECISION MEDICINE AND GENETICS, CANCER RESEARCH, NEUROLOGICAL INJURY, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES, IMMUNOLOGICAL CAUSES OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS, OSTEOPATHIC RESEARCH RELATED TO MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AND THEIR TREATMENT, DISEASE PREVALENCE IN RURAL AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED PATIENTS AND THE IMPACT OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE MEASURES, AND GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH RELATED TO DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS.

OUTREACH: THE PURPOSE OF RURAL OUTREACH AN IMPORTANT PART OF VCOM'S PURPOSE AND MISSION IS ENSURING THAT ITS STUDENTS ARE "GLOBALLY-MINDED AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED." FOR STUDENTS WHO HOPE TO SOMEDAY RETURN TO RURAL AREAS AS PHYSICIANS, THE OUTREACH PROGRAMS BUILT INTO THE CURRICULUM PROVIDE THEM WITH REWARDING SERVICE EXPERIENCES IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO RURAL LOCATIONS, MINORITY POPULATIONS, POVERTY AND ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE. WHILE TEACHING PREVENTIVE CARE THROUGH OUTREACH EXPERIENCES, VCOM FACULTY AND STUDENTS SEEK NOT JUST TO TREAT PATIENTS, BUT ALSO TO GUIDE STUDENTS IN IMPROVING THE OVERALL HEALTH OF RURAL AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, REINFORCING THE VCOM MISSION. COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEDICAL OUTREACH EXPERIENCES ARE A KEY COMPONENT IN EDUCATING STUDENTS TO MEET THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS. THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, VCOM STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE IMPACT OF PROVIDING CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO LIVE IN POOR SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS. FROM THE TIME THEY COMMENCE THEIR MEDICAL EDUCATION, VCOM STUDENTS GAIN SKILLS IN PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICINE THROUGH OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE CAMPUSES AS WELL AS REGIONALLY. BEGINNING IN THEIR FIRST YEAR, VCOM STUDENTS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PUBLIC HEALTH, PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL HEALTH FAIRS, FREE SCREENING EVENTS, COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS, PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS, MINI-MEDICAL SCHOOLS AT RURAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND OTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, ALL WHILE RECEIVING INSTRUCTION FROM EXPERIENCED FACULTY AND STAFF. APPALACHIAN OUTREACH PROGRAMS MINI-MED SCHOOLS - A CORNERSTONE OF VCOM'S MISSION IS TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF PHYSICIANS. "MINI-MEDICAL SCHOOLS," WHICH ALLOW RURAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A VIEW BEHIND THE SCENES INTO THE LIVES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS, ARE A KEY COMPONENT. VCOM STUDENTS, AS PART OF THEIR APPALACHIAN OUTREACH AND INTERPROFESSIONAL EARLY CLINICAL EXPERIENCES (IECE) TRAINING, ASSIST FACULTY IN CONDUCTING THE PROGRAM 14 FRIDAYS A YEAR. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ROTATE THROUGH SIX STATIONS, EACH STAFFED BY VCOM STUDENTS AND DEDICATED TO A COMMON HEALTH PROBLEM. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CONSIDER HEALTHCARE AS A POTENTIAL CAREER OPTION. SUMMER ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCE (SEE) - EACH SUMMER, VCOM HOSTS SUMMER CAMPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, FROM RURAL AREAS AND AT-RISK POPULATIONS, WITH ONE WEEK FOR BOYS AND THE OTHER FOR GIRLS. THE SUMMER ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCE (SEE) IS OFFERED TO RISING SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, AND SENIORS AND PROVIDES THEM WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN ANATOMY AND MEDICAL SCIENCE. DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE, THE SEE PROGRAM ALSO GIVES THEM AN APPRECIATION OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. STEM OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH - SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) ARE ESSENTIAL IN THE WORLD OF TODAY AND TOMORROW. TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN HEALTHCARE CAREERS AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH STUDENTS FROM RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS, VCOM STUDENTS AND FACULTY PROVIDE A NUMBER OF STEM PROGRAMS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS. SERVING THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM - INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORTS DISTINGUISH VCOM AS HAVING ONE OF THE NATIONS OUTSTANDING MEDICAL SCHOOL GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRAMS WHILE SUPPORTING THE VISION AND MISSION OF THE COLLEGE. FULL-TIME MEDICAL CLINICS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE CARE TO POPULATIONS IN NEED WHILE EDUCATING STUDENTS TO BECOME GLOBALLY- MINDED, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED PHYSICIANS. VCOM OFFERS ONE-WEEK LONG INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL OUTREACH EXPERIENCES, FOR SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS AND FACULTY PHYSICIANS, 12 WEEKS PER YEAR. THESE EXPERIENCES FOCUS ON PUBLIC HEALTH, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND INDIVIDUAL PATIENT CARE. RAPIDLY EXPANDING INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROVIDES STUDENTS AND FACULTY OPPORTUNITIES TO USE APPLIED RESEARCH TO ENHANCE PREVENTION OF DISEASE AND PROMOTION OF BETTER HEALTHCARE PRACTICES. A RECORD 288 VCOM STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE 2018-19 ACADEMIC YEAR. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE PHYSICIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN CLINICAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY MAY CONTRIBUTE TO VCOMS MISSION THROUGH PATIENT CARE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES. MEDICAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THESE TRIPS DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO ADDRESS HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN THE FACE OF POVERTY, ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND POLITICAL COMPLEXITY. PLEASE VISIT THE EDWARD VIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (VCOM) WEBSITE AT - WWW.VCOM.EDU PLEASE SEE OUR 2020 ANNUAL REPORT AT WWW.VCOM.EDU/NEWS-AND-EVENTS/PUBLICATIONS/ANNUAL-REPORTS FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR LATEST EDUCATIONAL, RESEARCH AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES THROUGH WHICH VCOM IS CHANGING THE WORLD.

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