VCOM 2019 Annual Report

Serving the Global Community Our International Outreach Program I nternational Outreach efforts distinguish VCOM as having one of the nation’s outstanding medical school global health programs while supporting the vision and mission of the College. Full-time medical clinics in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras provide sustainable care to populations in need while educating students to become globally- minded, community-focused physicians. VCOM offers one-week long international medical outreach experiences, for second-year students and faculty physicians, 12 weeks per year. These experiences focus on public health, community health and individual patient care. Rapidly expanding international research provides students and faculty opportunities to use applied research to enhance prevention of disease and promotion of better healthcare practices in Central America and the Caribbean. Student Experiences 288 VCOM students participated in international programs in the 2018-19 academic year, a record- breaking number. The program offers a variety of opportunities for future physicians to participate in clinical learning environments where they may contribute to VCOM’s Mission through patient care and preventive services. Medical students participating in these trips develop the skills to address healthcare needs in the face of poverty, adverse environmental conditions and political complexity. VCOM offers both one-week and one-month international rotations and affiliated residency options.

110 students completed clinical rotations in which patients received ongoing sustainable healthcare (July 2018 – July 2019)

12 week-long outreach trips to our international sites (July 2018 – July 2019)

288 medical students participated in international outreach (July 2018 – July 2019)

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