Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
About
History
The plan to create the Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine was taken when Virginia’s healthcare services were reviewed by members of the Harvey W. Peters Research Foundation and the Virginia Polytechnic Institution. The report showed Virginia’s southern and southwestern regions had an acute shortage of primary care, including 30 areas deemed to have severe shortages and over 70 were medically unprivileged areas. Present in the eastern part of the state, the 3 standing medical schools in Virginia produced a comparatively less number of primary care physicists or doctors for southern Virginia. Besides, a few students opted for clinical care. From the research, it was obvious that Virginia’s primary care scarcity would keep growing. VCOM is a nonprofit organization, basically financed by several organizations aimed at benefiting Virginia Tech and Southwest Virginia. Edward Via was indeed the person who played a pivotal role in endorsing the funds to this project. Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine recruited the first president and dean in 2001. The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine founded in Southwest Virginia was created by this respective team covering infrastructure and construction plans, educational program preparation, certification approvals, and the recruitment of the new staff and faculty. In 2003, the College officially opened to the first batch of students, graduating in 2007. In 2010 VCOM established a new Carolinas Branch of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina due to the influx of a huge group of students from there. Every study conducted by North and South Carolina showed a considerable requirement for primary care and for doctors who will work in the regions of North Carolina and South Carolina. In 2010 the COCA extended to the Carolinas Campus the accreditation of the central branch. The VCOM is also legally accredited by the Higher Education Commission of South Carolina and obtained initial licensing in 2010. .The first batch started classes in 2011. The South Carolina branch campus, like always attesting to VCOM ‘s dedication to performance, has fulfilled every accreditation criteria along the journey and has earned multiple accreditations in the assessment process. In May 2015 the main campus dispatched its first batch of graduates. Leaders of Auburn University were exploring a school of medicine in 2011. AU had identified the appalling healthcare outcomes and the severe lack of doctors. The current campus is at the University of Auburn. State authorizations for licensing and certification were achieved, and the COCA accreditation started in 2013. In 2015, Campus Auburn started as a regionally certified campus.Mission
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) mission is designed to manage versatile, society-based doctors to respond to the requirements of remote and medically disadvantaged communities and to encourage initiatives for the betterment of human health.Goals
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- Pivoted on experiment-based practice, patient-oriented treatment, the body’s intrinsic capacity to recover, the connection of function to work, and treatment options of osteopathic engineering to include osteopathic medical training and study.
- To train students and assess their success in the academic competencies of osteopathy.
- To train the students to clear all stages of COMLEX-USA exams successfully.
- To train students to be eligible to go into accredited residency programs.
- Fostering a culture of employee development and demonstrate the effectiveness of institutional contribution.
- To endorse the spectrum of osteopathic medical education, covering pre-clinical training at the hospital, and high-quality, formal community-based education.
- Appoint and teach students from and in the sociologically and economically distressed areas of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama, particularly those in rural America and the Southern States tobacco and cotton sectors.
- Recruit candidates who have a deep desire to provide for underserved patient communities.
- To motivate medical students with a willingness and dedication exhibited.
- Produce, encourage, and propagate medical awareness by Appalachian and Foreign outreach initiatives in preventing disease, chronic illness care, public wellbeing, and global health policies.
- To improve scientific understanding Via medical science.
- Promoting emergency assistance activities.
- Fostering unique osteopathic practices.
- Developing a multicultural physician sector that will work in rural communities.
- To provide access to remote and non-insured populations.
- Promoting medicine for the mission.
Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Accreditations
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by:-
- Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)
- State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)\
- South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
- The Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina
- Alabama Commission on Higher Education
- Alabama Department on Postsecondary Education
Clinical Sites
The college provides students with clinical sites for practice in the last two years.Clinical Partnerships
Virginia Campus
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- Wythe County Community Hospital
- Mountain States Health Alliance – Russell County Medical Center
- Mountain States Health Alliance – Smyth County Community Hospital
- Clinch Valley Medical Center
- Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital
- Carilion New River Valley Medical Center
- LewisGale Hospital Montgomery
- LewisGale Pulaski
- Carilion Giles Community Hospital
- LewisGale Medical Center at Salem
- Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
- LewisGale Hospital at Alleghany
- LewisGale Hospital at Alleghany
- Danville Regional Medical Center
- Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital
- Riverside Regional Medical Center
- Augusta Health
- Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center
- G Bill Hefner VA Medical Center
- Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (SR-AHEC)
Carolina Campus
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- AnMed Health
- Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
- Mary Black Health System
- Spartanburg Regional Medical Center
- Aiken Regional Medical Center
- Palmetto Health Tuomey
- Regional Center of Orangeburg
- Newberry County Hospital
- William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center
- Grand Strand Regional Center
- Roper St. Francis Healthcare
- Piedmont Medical Center
- Springs Memorial Hospital
- Orange Park Medical Center
Auburn Campus
- Columbus Regional Medical Center
- Crestwood Medical Center
- East Alabama Medical Center
- Fort Walton Beach Medical Center
- Gadsden Regional Medical Center
- Grandview Medical Center
- Helen Keller Hospital
- Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital
- Medical Center Enterprise
- Russell Medical Center
- South Georgia Medical Center
- Wellington Regional Medical Center
VCOM Admission
Admission Requirements
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- Subjects must be completed at an approved national institution which is recognized by the U.S. Education Department. In certain cases, as far as the U.S. acknowledges the certifier, a degree from a college that is federally, instead of regionally certified is allowed.
- Candidates who have completed the academic work and/or graduated from a university abroad must send to AACOMAS an assessment of their documents. AACOMAS will authorize the firm selected for the transcript review. For a list of acceptable corporations kindly see the AACOMAS website.
- While evaluating successful candidates, Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine typically focuses on the science courses and the final 120 credit hours.
- Candidates should obtain a science and combined grade point average of at least 3.2. The average student-accepted GPA is 3.5 to 3.6.
- A candidate should be a citizen of the United States or a legal resident of the U.S. To explore requirements for admission, foreign candidates who have concerns about their application status may approach the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
- Candidates should meet Professional Requirements for Continued Enrollment and Acceptance. Both candidates have to read properly and state that they satisfy the relevant admission requirements. Any deception or misinformation about the capacity to achieve professional requirements is a cause for rejection. Candidates should be able to use a keyboard for scheduled test circumstances and report at an acceptable pace.
- Particular attention may be given to the practice of Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, and Physical Therapy Doctors when evaluating curriculum equivalence courses in the assessment. For special accommodations, the Director of Admissions and the Dean of Campus perform the curriculum assessment.
Prerequisite Courses
Candidates should have earned Ninety hours or three-fourths of the baccalaureate points needed and passed the core subjects mentioned below from an institute approved by a national accrediting authority:-
- Biological Sciences: 4 credit hours
- Physics: 6 credit hours
- General and Inorganic Chemistry: 6 credit hours
- Organic Chemistry: 6 credit hours
- English and Composition: 6 credit hours
- A minimum of 6 additional biomedical science credit hours at the 200 level or above, which prepare the applicant for medical school. These include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, virology, or genetics.
MCAT Scores
Candidates should submit current MCAT scores which are less than four years before the matriculation time. The institution must consider the April MCAT conducted from up to four years before the matriculation period for the present enrollment period. VCOM recognizes the GPA to be the most relevant, and the MCAT performance is matched with a GPA in the selection process. The candidates have an average MCAT of 500. During an interview candidates with an MCAT of less than 494 are usually not considered. A successful MCAT hits or exceeds 500. Please note that when evaluating overall MCAT results, VCOM takes into account both the quantitative and percentage scores.Stepwise Guidance
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- Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine has standard requirements that all candidates should fulfill to be taken into consideration for admission into the doctor’s course of study in Osteopathic Medicine. There are several other attributes, skills, and experience beyond the minimum requirements that the university considers will assist to increase your chances of admission and succeeding in the education program.
- You should submit the applications through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS
- The secondary application can only be accessed by invitation. If your AACOMAS application is received by VCOM, your file must undergo an initial screening process. Qualified candidates are asked to fill out a secondary application.
- VCOM needs 2 recommendation letters: one from a medical doctor and one from a pre-medical / pre-health board or a representative of a science faculty.
- After you have completed your application you would be evaluated for an interview. If selected, you would be informed to arrange an in-person interview at one of the VCOM branches by phone or e-mail.
- After you have submitted your application, you will monitor your application status via the application server.
How to Apply to Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Candidates who meet basic standards for GPA and MCAT results, complete several college courses, and achieve desired levels of competency and citizenship. Before applying to Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine ensure you have everything that is required. The educational programs are similar across every campus of VCOM. Via AACOMAS, your application is submitted to VCOM ‘s main admissions department, and you’ll have the opportunity to choose which branch you want to opt for. Each candidate is evaluated on one campus only, the interview cannot be taken at more than one.Research
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine is proud of its commitment to improving scientific understanding through modern research. The VCOM aims to promote a culture of faculties growth and supports achievement by promoting research, creativity, and academic practice.- Clinical research examines the health effects of medications, equipment, medical tools, and biological-use care therapies. The VCOM Clinical research group focuses exclusively on clinical psychology, preventative medicine, education services, and the detection and treatment of illnesses, especially those in underprivileged and remote parts of the southern Appalachian community.
- Biomedical research includes studying health-oriented problems, which use non-human prototypes such as animals or cells, in an attempt to pave the way for progress in medical science and to address issues about the fundamental processes and mechanisms involved in particular diseases.
- VCOM’s academic analysis and research programs include developing initiatives to help students succeed in their academic study, as well as supporting the provision of health-related services to underprivileged areas domestically and overseas.
Research Services
The Office of Research Administration (ORA) provides a variety of resources to faculty, employees, and students undertaking study or other academic programs targeted at enhancing public health and addressing remote and medically unprivileged communities’ needs. VCOM assists with:- Extramural funding searches
- Proposal preparation and approval
- Application submission and processing
- Award stipulations and contract negotiation
- Project administration and stewardship of funds
- Regulatory compliance monitoring
VCOM takes responsibility for:
- Negotiating, collecting, and distributing certificates, among other contractual changes
- Managing the mandates and grants after awards
- Guaranteeing that contracts and grants terminate in an organized manner
- Continuing to pursue support for College and Public education and awareness programs
- Keeping operational and management reports on research facilities at the College
Edwards Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Community Health
The objectives for community health care are:- To enhance the evidential based medical practice
- To enhance health care access and services in unprivileged communities
- To lessen chronic illness severity
- To improve collaborations with community organizations in the serving areas
- To encourage people to take good care of themselves
Sports Medicine Fellowship
In addition to learning to incorporate osteopathic concepts in the assessment and care of sports patients when collaborating alongside physical therapists, orthopedists, and other professionals, sports medicine members develop the overall orthopedic and medical expertise in the curriculum to establish a systematic, thorough, and collaborative approach to patient care. To protect the athletic patient, as well as to encourage health and establish a healthy rehabilitative atmosphere, evidence- oriented approach is used.Student Government Organizations
A very significant aspect of Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is the college societies and student organizations. The assistance provided by student organization leaders benefits not just the society and the area but also the participants as they acquire useful experience, qualifications, and knowledge. Students are motivated to learn about and engage in all organizations and bodies. Student Government Organizations are listed below:- American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians
- American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP)
- American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI)
- American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG)
- American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP)
- American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA)
- American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM)
- Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA)
- Gold Humanism Honor Society
- Hispanic Community Medical Outreach (HCMO)
- Medical Muslim Student Association (MMSA)
- Medical Outreach and Volunteer Effort (MOVE)
- Psychiatry Student Organization (PSYCH)
- Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP)
- Student Advocate Association (SAA)
- Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO)
- Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS)
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
- Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA)
- Student Osteopathic Surgical Association (SOSA)
- Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA)
- Via Wellness
