Class of 2024 VCOM-Louisiana alumnus Trey Skains is already making his mark in graduate medical education. During his internal medicine residency at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trey was appointed chief resident for the 2026–2027 academic year, an honor that reflects the trust of his peers and program leadership.
For Jordan Saunders, DO, VCOM-Virginia ‘22, the journey to family medicine began long before medical school. Raised in Roanoke, Virginia, he discovered early in high school that medicine aligned with both his interests and his values. Drawn to science fairs and inspired by watching his father serve patients as a respiratory therapist, he also accompanied his grandfather, who had diabetes, to medical appointments.
For Lindsey Van Duyn, VCOM–Carolinas ‘15, the journey to medicine began in rural Iowa—but clarity came later.
After graduating from the University of Central Florida, she explored different jobs while medicine lingered quietly in the background. It wasn’t until she volunteered at the Mayo Clinic that everything aligned. There, she witnessed the powerful combination of scientific rigor, research, and patient care.
VCOM–Virginia was honored to welcome Maxine Lee, MD, MBA, FASA, as the distinguished guest and featured speaker for the 2026 William G. Anderson, DO Speaker Series on the Blacksburg campus.
For Justin Nguyen ’26, being named VCOM-Louisiana’s Student Researcher of the Year is both an honor and a reflection of years spent asking thoughtful questions, embracing persistence, and pursuing research that can advance patient care. His journey into medicine and research is deeply personal, shaped by family, curiosity, and a commitment to improving others' quality of life.
In late January 2026, Winter Storm Fern brought historic winter conditions to large portions of the United States, including northeast Louisiana. The storm, stretching more than 2,000 miles and affecting an estimated 245 million people, brought ice, freezing rain, and record-breaking cold, creating hazardous travel conditions, downed power lines, and widespread utility outages.
Matching into residency marks the transition from medical student to practicing physician. For many medical students and their families, however, the process of residency Match can feel mysterious, stressful, and high stakes. And in truth, it is one of the most important transitions in a physician’s training, but the goal of the process is to align aspiring doctors with programs where they can grow, serve, and thrive.
On Match Day each spring, many medical students around the country find out which residency program they will call home as they continue their medical education. But while many students participate in that civilian residency match, students pursuing military service follow a different timeline and process, reflecting the structure and workforce needs of the armed forces.
Two VCOM-Carolinas students are gaining national research experience while representing the College on an international stage. Camila Pacocha and Shadika Panta, both members of the Class of 2028, recently presented their research at the Keystone Symposia Conference: Spotlight on the Cancer Cell.
Throughout her medical education journey, Taylor Bush, DO, VCOM–Auburn ‘25, showed incredible resilience and determination—graduating on time and reaching her goal of becoming a physician despite becoming a mom to twins in her third year. Today, she is completing her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Huntsville Regional Campus in Huntsville, Alabama.
Robert Eysler’s path to medical school has been shaped by sustained involvement in global health and a leadership philosophy grounded in service, adaptability, and teamwork.
VCOM–Louisiana is proud to recognize Annie Pham, Class of 2026, as its Student Doctor of the Year, an honor bestowed by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. The award honors a student who exceeds expectations through leadership, service, scholarship, and commitment to osteopathic principles.
VCOM-Carolinas is proud to announce Meghan Warner, Class of 2028, as the campus’s 2025–2026 Student Doctor of the Year. Selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees, Meghan was recognized for her outstanding leadership, service, scholarship, and dedication to the osteopathic profession.
Can I afford to see my doctor? Who will take care of my children while I’m at the doctor’s office? How am I going to get time off of work? How will I find the transportation to get there? These are the kinds of questions that families living in poverty face when thinking about how to access healthcare.
What began three years ago as one student’s response to a powerful first-day experience of her core rotation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Rapides Women’s and Children’s Hospital, a division of Rapides Regional Medical Center, has grown into a meaningful, student-led tradition.
This holiday season, students, faculty, and staff from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) brought joy to children and families in Honduras through the College’s annual International Program Christmas Fundraiser.
