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VCOM Virginia Campus

Mission and Goals

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.

Our 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 educates students in, the socioeconomically depressed regions of the southern states including southern Appalachia, the former tobacco and cotton regions, and the Delta.
  • 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 all medically underserved populations.
  • To foster education addressing healthcare disparities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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

4. To advance scientific knowledge through medical research.

  • Biomedical Research
  • Clinical Research
  • Preventive Medicine Research
  • Educational Research
  • Osteopathic Principles and Practice Research

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 serve and care for medically underserved populations.
  • To provide medical outreach to rural communities and the uninsured.

  • To promote global health through mission medicine.

VCOM’s faculty, staff and students VALUE professionalism, integrity, duty, compassion, altruism, knowledge and critical thinking.