The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)-Virginia Campus has launched a new award honoring the Outstanding Clinical Faculty of the Year. The winner of the inaugural award is David G. Harden, DO, VCOM’s discipline chair for osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) and an associate professor for OMM and family medicine.
Graduation week festivities reached a crescendo in Neville Arena on Saturday, May 13, 2023, as 147 members of the VCOM-Auburn Class of 2023 were awarded their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degrees. An exceptionally enthusiastic crowd cheered students on as they crossed the stage to be ceremoniously hooded by campus Dean Heath Parker, DO.
The winner of the first Outstanding Biomedical Faculty of the Year Award for 2023 is Jim Mahaney, PhD, who is celebrating 20 years with VCOM. During the last two decades, Mahaney has been a dedicated researcher and a compassionate educator, qualities that led fellow faculty to nominate him for this award—one of the highest honors VCOM bestows.
Each spring, physicians from across Louisiana join together at the state capitol for White Coat Wednesday. This event, led locally by the Louisiana State Medical Society, provides an opportunity for physicians to interact with legislators and advocate for the medical profession.
VCOM-Virginia Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Sofia Abraham-Hardee, DO, PhD, FACOP, FAAP, CS; VCOM-Louisiana Dean Mark Sanders, DO, JD, MPH, LLM, MS, FACOFP; and VCOM-Louisiana Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs Andy Langley, DO, recently completed a yearlong Senior Leadership Development Program (SLDP) with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).
Meet Ellie Greene, a young woman who became a bone marrow donor after learning about the plight of a child in need.
I had absolutely no idea what powerlifting even was,” says Allison Garden, VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2025. “Working out was a hobby for me, not something I’d ever considered taking to a competitive level of any type.” The 24-year-old first took up the sport in 2018, during her last semester at college, with the encouragement of Dan Austin, USC’s football strength coach.
Her newfound passion for powerlifting would have profound effects on Garden’s life in the years to come. “The small group of people that lifted at the baseball weight room every morning at 5:15 a.m. quickly became a semblance of a family to me,” she says. “To this day, we still have a group chat that we talk in every day despite being hundreds of miles away from each other.”
Founded as a research-oriented osteopathic medical school, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) has a long-standing tradition of hosting annual Research Day events on each of its campuses. As the newest of the four campuses, VCOM-Louisiana held their inaugural Via Research Recognition Day on Friday, April 14, 2023.
You might be able to imagine how it feels to see the USNS Comfort anchored in a harbor, especially if you live in a part of the world that requires the services it provides. With a length of 894 feet, the ship is only a few feet shorter than the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth 2. Stood on its end, the ship would tower over the Golden Gate Bridge and the Space Needle. In short: It’s big. Painted white, with large red crosses, it certainly makes an impression.
Mary Mitchell, DO, insists that she has the best job. Dr. Mitchell is an associate professor in the VCOM-Virginia’s Department of Family Medicine, but she’s also part of VCOM’s nationally recognized sports medicine program, which provides medical care to Virginia Tech’s sports teams. Dr. Mitchell has the privilege of being the team physician for the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team, which had a truly remarkable season, winning the ACC Tournament title and reaching the final four of the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by eventual champion Louisiana State University. For good reason, Blacksburg has been all-in on this team and for Dr. Mitchell, this season has been a highlight of her career.
“Dr. Powers is a charismatic and dedicated teacher. She consistently provides us with learning tools to understand concepts and OMT techniques.” – anonymous student of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)-Carolinas Class of 2025.
Spartanburg’s medical school awarded grant to inspire and encourage high school students to develop an interest in medicine
VCOM-Auburn held its inaugural Faculty Recognition and Awards Banquet event on March 16, 2023. Faculty and administrators gathered in the multipurpose room to share a meal and enjoy some fellowship, while recognizing their peers’ teaching excellence.
Research breaks down barriers to understanding and can change the world, which is why VCOM was founded as a research-oriented osteopathic institution and why it is a critical part of the VCOM experience for many students. In fact, research is a key part of VCOM’s mission: promoting research to improve human health.
