VCOM 2022 Annual Report

Advancing Outreach to Our Global Communities T he VCOM International Program continues to advance where possible with current COVID safety restrictions. Support to international clinics, research, publications, curriculum development, student organization international activities and other components has continued. Student interest in international programs remains high based on the number of applications for programs. International clinical rotations with third- and fourth-year students have resumed in Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

SOUTHCOM Partnership As mentioned in the Military section on page 40 of this report, the most significant development involving the College’s international outreach program was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between VCOM and SOUTHCOM that was signed in February of 2022. USNS Comfort Medical Outreach VCOM faculty members, who are also military veterans, Ron Januchowski, DO and Fred Rawlins, III DO, as well as VCOM Vice Provost for International and Appalachian Outreach Dean Sutphin, PhD, participated in meetings held in Jacksonville, Florida and Virginia Beach, Virginia, to plan USNS Comfort hospital ship outreach trips to Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

Trips began during fall 2022, with VCOM faculty physicians and Health

Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) military students participating in clinical rotations on the USNS Comfort medical ship for one-week engagements in Honduras and the Dominican Republic. VCOM Clinic physicians and in-country medical providers assist with medical outreach in the countries when they are on shore. Up to four physicians and eight VCOM third- and fourth-year HPSP students per trip live on the Comfort and participate with U.S. military and in-country medical providers. Dr. Januchowski was the clinical leader for the Honduran trip and Dr. Fred Rawlins III was the leader for the Dominican Republic.

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