VCOM has observed the unfolding story of violence occurring in Israel and the Middle East, including the loss of human life, and we are concerned about all within our campus community whom this violence has impacted.
Today, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) received the 2023 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
As an osteopathic medical college, VCOM is committed to improving rural health by educating physicians who are dedicated to the specific needs of these special communities. We also know that rural primary care medicine offers a unique and fulfilling path for healthcare professionals, bringing with it a set of positive aspects that enrich both the practitioners and the communities they serve. While challenges may exist, the rewards of rural practice contribute to a sense of purpose and community impact.
As our population ages, the demand for specialized healthcare for seniors has never been more critical. Geriatric medicine physicians play a pivotal role in addressing the unique healthcare needs of the elderly within the realm of primary care. These specialized practitioners bring a wealth of knowledge and skills that are essential for promoting the well-being of older adults.
In the realm of primary care, the marriage of sports medicine and healthcare creates a powerful alliance that goes beyond the athletic field. As an integral part of comprehensive healthcare, sports medicine in primary care not only addresses the unique needs of athletes but also promotes overall wellness, preventive care and swift recovery for individuals of all ages.
Watching their child die, especially from a preventable condition, is a parent’s worst nightmare. When Angel and George Mueller’s 18-year-old son, Dillon, died from a previously unknown allergy to bees, they knew they had to do something to spare other families the same experience. That’s why they launched the Dillon Mueller Memorial Fund, which provides free training on the use of epinephrine autoinjectors and scholarships for high school seniors looking to further their education. They also advocate for loosening the prescription requirements to access an autoinjector.
On Jan. 28, 2012, the incomplete skeletal remains of a small child were discovered in the woods next to a mobile home community in Opelika. At the time, the remains were sent to the FBI for anthropological examination and genetic testing. Once they received a report, the Opelika Police Department (OPD) reached out to the public for help to identify this unknown child, dubbed “Baby Jane Doe.” Based on this original examination and subsequent additional tests, they sought to put a name to a young Black girl, approximately 4-to-7 years old, who had suffered from multiple broken bones at the time she died. There were no leads on her identity, and the case remained unsolved.
In October, Ronald Januchowski, DO, FACOFP, will begin his tenure as dean of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)-Virginia campus.
At the 2023 Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC), VCOM–Louisiana student Torhiana Haydel ‘24, MHA, was appointed health policy and legislative affairs co-chair.
On June 21, 2023, VCOM President Dixie Tooke-Rawlins DO, announced that several members of the VCOM family would be promoted to better serve the college and its students, faculty and staff.
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.
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.
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.
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.