Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

The MISSION of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) 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.

Their Goals:

1. To provide education in the art and science of osteopathic medicine.

• To provide osteopathic medical education and research focused on evidence based medicine, patient centered care, the body’s innate ability to heal, the relationship of structure to function, and the clinical application of osteopathic manipulation.
• To prepare students and measure their performance in the osteopathic medical competencies.
• To prepare students to successfully pass all levels of COMLEX-USA examinations.
• To prepare students to successfully match into accredited residency programs.
• To foster a culture of faculty growth and institutional excellence through:
  • CME and faculty development;
  • Continuous examination, review and update of curriculum and recognition for excellence in teaching;
  • Annual review and research on new developments in medical education, new delivery models and technology; and
  • Support for faculty research, innovation, and scholarly work in the areas of biomedical, clinical, educational, public health and health policy research.
• To support the osteopathic medical education continuum, including on campus preclinical education and high quality, structured community based clinical graduate medical education.

2. To recruit and graduate students who will address health care disparities including those related to rural locations, minority populations, poverty status, and primary care.

• Recruit students from, and educate students in the socioeconomically depressed regions of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama, especially those in Appalachia and the tobacco and cotton regions of the Southern States.
• Recruit students with a strong desire to care for medically underserved populations.
• To foster medical students with a desire and demonstrated commitment to an enhanced understanding of global healthcare and disaster medicine.
• To foster primary care, and healthcare for medically underserved populations.

3. To generate, promote, and disseminate medical knowledge in disease prevention, chronic disease management, community health, and public health practices through Appalachian and International outreach programs.

4. To advance scientific knowledge through medical research.

• Biomedical Research
• Clinical Research
• Educational Research/Osteopathic Principles and Practice

5. To serve as an advocate of osteopathic medicine, rural health, mission medicine and affordable, accessible healthcare for the medically underserved.

• To promote primary care practices.
• To promote osteopathic distinctive practices.
• To develop a diverse workforce of physicians who will practice in underserved areas.
• To provide outreach to rural communities and the uninsured.
• To promote mission medicine.

Classes only available on campus. Financial aid available to those who qualify.