VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Extracurricular Activities, Memberships, and Appointments

International and Appalachian Outreach VCOM has offered global health programs with international and Appalachian experiences since 2005. In the process, VCOM has established policies and procedures for best practices which require student compliance. VCOM has established clinical sites through permanent clinics in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras. Villages and orphanages within a geographical service area of each clinic have been selected by VCOM to receive continuous sustainable health care. The VCOM service areas and activities are authorized by agreements with the Minister of Health, medical schools, physicians’ associations, and foundations for effective work in each country. Beyond the legal agreements, there are important working relationships in hospitals, villages, and many not-for-profit organizations; along with key individuals with whom VCOM has built trust relationships. Appalachian and Delta regions community outreach programs have taken various forms including service activities with local partners, response to disasters, medical outreach programs including prevention and health literacy programs, health screening and treatment), and other activities that promote an improvement of the health of persons living within the region. On all occasions, VCOM’s response is in collaboration with partners that share in values and where VCOM can make a significant contribution from community organizations to schools and clinical hospital partners. Those who participate in VCOM outreach programs have a professional responsibility to meet their obligations as to professional and responsible behaviors as a medical professional as well as to understand the expectations of the college and our hosts. Students must respect and understand cultural norms and follow professional norms that are unique to the site. Internationally, VCOM is an invited guest or partner in countries where there are cultural, individual and practice differences than those found in America. Students are immersed in the setting for a period of time and must seek to fully understand the beliefs or practice norms within the host country. In addition to VCOM’s guidance, students are expected to follow the VCOM Code of Conduct and direction for the safety of the student and the patient. The international clinical faculty preceptor is the primary contact during rotation to provide guidance for clinical skill development, safety, and cultural activities. VCOM recognizes that outreach trips are not for everyone because of personal and professional interests, personality traits, and other factors. Therefore, a student’s choice to participate or not participate will be respected without any consequence or merit for either decision they choose. While VCOM does not require students to participate in international global health, a vast majority of students will take advantage of one or more opportunities. A brief synopsis of VCOM options illustrates the range of options available to our students. Student individual and group elective opportunities in the VCOM Global Health Program by level include: • OMS I – The student prepares his or her clinical knowledge and skill set prior to participating in medical outreach. In addition to the curriculum, electives in Medical Spanish are provided. • OMS II – Health outreach trips in an Appalachian or Delta medically underserved community Mini-medical schools focused on preventing high risk behaviors in teens and promoting careers in healthcare. One-week medical mission trips focused on public health, primary care, and prevention programs Community outreach in local shelters and free clinics. • OMS III and IV – One month rotation in a rural and/or medically underserved practice

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