VCOM 2020 Annual Report

AUBURN

MESSAGE FROM THE AUBURN DEAN A Primary Care Shortage ELIZABETH A. PALMAROZZI, DO, FACOFP R ecent worldwide events have highlighted the critical importance of a robust healthcare system. That system starts at the community level with the hope of leaving no one behind. Unfortunately, critical shortcomings continue within the state of Alabama. Thousands of Alabamians lack access to primary care doctors. VCOM-Auburn was established in 2015 by a forward-looking group of individuals to address this critical need in Alabama and the Southeast. These leaders recognized the need for primary care physicians, who are on the forefront of care. VCOM’s partnership with Auburn University is important to mention as it strengthens research and training opportunities for our students and staff. Another major partnership occurred this past year with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama and VCOM Scholarship Program. This $3.2 million scholarship initiative will have a profound impact on future healthcare availability as it will produce 42 new physicians to serve in Alabama. These future physicians will serve to improve the quality of life and improve health outcomes across the state (see page 142) . VCOM-Auburn saw its inaugural class of 152 physicians graduate in 2019, and recently, 154 members of the class of 2020 graduated as well. We are constantly reminded of the future and of fulfilling our mission at VCOM-Auburn, especially on prospective student interview days. We continually work to recruit students from rural and underserved areas with the hope that they will one day return to those areas with critical need. ■

ALABAMA’S PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE There are 4 . 1 Primary Care Physicians per 10,000 residents in RURAL COUNTIES compared to 7.9 in URBAN COUNTIES 156 NEW PHYSICIANS graduated in the VCOM-Auburn Class of 2020

We are constantly reminded of the future and of fulfilling our mission at VCOM-Auburn, especially on prospective student interview days.

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