VCOM 2019 Annual Report

PatsyT. Smith International and Appalachian Outreach Endowment T he Patsy T. Smith International and Appalachian Outreach Endowment was created by her husband, Garnett E. Smith and daughter, Wendy Smith, in loving memory and honor of Patsy’s lifelong compassion and commitment to improving the quality of life for others. Although Patsy

Among these are Virginia Tech, Virginia Western Community College, Taubman Museum of Art and the Skelton 4-H Center at Smith Mountain Lake. When asked why he and his daughter made this gift to VCOM, Garnett said, “It’s only natural for

donors to want their dollars to make the broadest possible impact. VCOM is a medical school that has demonstrated its success in improving the quality of life for those living in rural and medically underserved areas. If you’re going to give, why not give to a place that is going to have the broadest influence? We believe in VCOM and have witnessed

battled breast cancer, non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma and ovarian cancer, she used her personal battle with cancer to inspire and comfort others, while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research.

“ We believe in VCOM and have witnessed firsthand the positive effect it is having on the region. We view this as an investment in the community and those families who call Appalachia home. ” Garnett Smith

Patsy and Garnett Smith grew up in southwest

Virginia and have supported numerous initiatives and charities in the region that touch the lives of families living throughout southern Appalachia.

firsthand the positive effect it is having on the region. We view this as an investment in the community and those families who call Appalachia home.” Recipients of the Patsy T. Smith International and Appalachian Outreach Endowment will be selected on the basis of their commitment to International and Appalachian Outreach Programs and the impact the grant will have on students’ learning, professional development and positive impact on the host community. VCOM is excited about the Smith family’s latest commitment. “This endowment will offer our students a unique opportunity to use their clinical skills in setting that may have medical and public health challenges different from their own,” said Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, VCOM President and Provost. “We cannot thank the Smith family enough for their generous support of VCOM and its outreach programs,” Tooke-Rawlins added.

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