VCOM 2023 Annual Report

In fall 2003, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) welcomed the first class of students to its campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It was a momentous occasion, brought about by the commitment of the College’s founders who saw a problem—the growing shortage of physicians, particularly in the Appalachian region—and determined that they were going to do something about it. In the decades since, VCOM has added three branch campuses and educated more than 5,000 physicians, heightening the College’s impact. It has also expanded medical research and broadened its reach to underserved communities across the Southeastern United States and the globe. Those decades have also seen a commitment to service become deeply ingrained in the VCOM culture, attracting students, faculty and staff who share the College’s values and enhancing the impact of this remarkable community of educators and physicians. We are proud of our alumni and the impact they have each day on the patients they treat and the communities they serve, and we look forward to our next twenty years.

2003-2023

Table of Contents

1 24 70 80

Introduction Message from the President Message from the Chairman VCOM Board of Directors

Our Campuses Virginia Campus 26 Carolinas Campus 38 Auburn Campus 48 Louisiana Campus 58 Reflections from

Students Target Recruitment Region About our Students 74 Student Success 76 Class of 2023 Residency Match 78 72

Academic Programs What is a DO?

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82

Programs of Study Academic Program

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84

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86 Clinical Program 90 Clinical Training Sites 92 Affiliated Programs 102

History of the College Awards and Honors

8

VCOM Family and Partners

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66

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YEARS OF EDUCATING FUTURE PHYSICIANS

Outreach Community Outreach International Outreach International Partnerships Giving Student Scholarship Highlights 213 Stories of Generosity 218 Our Donors 230 Ways to Give 240 110 132 186 210 112 120 124 Research Overview VCOM Research Retreat 134 136 Alumni Student & Alumni Specialties 188

Residency Placement & Locations 190 Class of 2023 196 Alumni Stories 198 Alumni Association 204 VCOM & Our Military 208

Via Research Recognition Day 138 Funded Research & Grants 154 Faculty Scholarly Activities 162 Student Scholarly Activities 176

International Outreach Timeline and Reflections 126

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 3

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP President, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine A Message from the President

W hen VCOM’s Board of Directors Chair John Rocovich approached me in 2001 about becoming the dean and executive vice president at a new college of osteopathic medicine in Blacksburg, I was honored and enthusiastic for the opportunity. The rural mission of the College was something that resonated deeply with me then, as it still does today. I’m grateful for the years I’ve been able to lead this College and to be part of the College’s tremendous growth over the last two decades. Our faculty, students and alumni are without question some of the most dedicated physicians—and future physicians—I’ve worked with. Our staff members are dedicated to our

our graduates are practicing in a primary care specialty. Not only do they provide desperately needed care to patients, they also make their communities stronger and healthier, having contributed nearly $54 billion in total economic impact to date. Our success in producing graduates who are dedicated to our mission is due in large part because they come from the communities where we are making a difference. Moreover, these are exemplary students who have excellent academics in their undergraduate programs and who go on to do extremely well on their boards, with 93% to 99% pass rates on their first attempt across our campuses. 2007, VCOM has had 366 graduates enter military service. Over the next four classes, 162 more students will join them. There can be no greater evidence of the VCOM community’s commitment to the College’s mission than service to our country. That commitment extends beyond the borders of the United States as well. Over the last 20 years, VCOM students, faculty and alumni have participated in more than 150 international outreach trips and have cared for more than 75,000 patients in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and more. We’ve developed strong partnerships with organizations in these countries and with the U.S. Southern Command, providing unique learning opportunities for our military students that will make them better and more compassionate physicians after they graduate. I’m also proud of our College’s commitment to military service. Since

students, our communities and our mission. I’m proud of everything they have accomplished—and what we’ll accomplish together in the future. Twenty years ago, we knew that this country was facing a physician shortage and

2003 2023

YEARS OF EDUCATING FUTURE PHYSICIANS

we were in a position to make a real difference. Today, we take pride in the physician graduates from across our four campuses who are making a difference in the lives of patients and in the communities these alumni serve. In 2024, VCOM will surpass 5,000 graduates across its four campuses, and our newest campus in Louisiana will graduate its first class. The vast majority of our 5,000+ graduates have truly leaned into the College’s mission, taking the excellent VCOM education they received back to rural and underserved communities around the country, but particularly in our target region of the Appalachian and Southeastern United States. Nearly 75% are practicing in one of our target states. Furthermore, more than 60% of

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Alumni Success by the Numbers 5,049 Physician graduates 2007-2023 $ 53.8 Billion Alumni National Total Economic Impact (to date) 2,578 Students enrolled across VCOM’s four campuses in the Southeastern United States in 2023 More than 625 Graduates each year beginning in 2024

Of course, VCOM’s mission is also about engaging in research that will make a difference to human health across the globe. To date, VCOM has $108 million in research expenditures, and our four campuses annually celebrate the research efforts of our students at our Research Day events. Members of our community are currently researching a wide range of topics and treatments, from mental health treatments and low back pain to Alzheimer’s Disease and diabetes. Our faculty and staff are leaders in the osteopathic profession, like Gunnar Brolinson, DO, our vice provost for research, who recently joined the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Integrative Health at the invitation of Xavier Becerra, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. VCOM also hosted the first National Rural Medicine Conference in 2023—with the second conference coming in 2025—bringing together physicians and leaders in the field of rural medicine for an opportunity to learn and collaborate. VCOM’s first 20 years have been proof that the kind of physicians we educate are sorely needed in the world and I’m honored to be part of this VCOM community!

$ 108 Million in Research Expenditures (to date) Targeted Recruiting for our Mission 25 % Current students come from

communities with UNDER 10,000 POPULATION

65 % Alumni complete a

primary care residency after graduation

78 % Graduates complete their

residency in a southeastern U.S. target state

62 % Graduates are in a primary care practice 2007-2023 Alumni in the Southeastern United States target region 70% practice in the combined target region 70% practice in an underserved area 56% practice in a primary care specialty 50% practice in a rural area

2003 President James Wolfe with Dean and Executive Vice President Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, on the opening day for the first class at VCOM.

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 5

John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM Chairman, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine A Message from the Chairman

O ne of the greatest honors my wife, Sue Ellen, and I have had in our lives was to found the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM). More than 20 years ago, we had a vision to build an osteopathic medical school that would produce globally minded, community-focused physicians who would return to the areas of greatest need in Southwest Virginia. Since then, our vision has multiplied into four campuses across the Southeastern United States. Because of the efforts of our VCOM community, more than 5,000 physicians have been educated and entered the healthcare workforce. VCOM has also developed numerous partnerships and collaborations in vital biomedical, clinical and educational research areas, solidifying its impact on the communities it serves. In 2001, studies showed that the United States faced a shortage of over 100,000 physicians by 2025. Those predictions have come to pass as many members of the current physician workforce, born during the Baby Boom following World War II, are retiring. Rural America is facing severe economic challenges. The need for physicians in underserved communities has grown significantly in the last two decades.

The board of directors, the College administration and I are amazed at the impact our alumni are having on the health of the underserved communities in the United States. They provide exemplary healthcare to patients, and VCOM graduates are responsible for contributing $53.8 billion in economic impact in their communities. We have made real progress in our vision in only 20 years. Faculty and student researchers at VCOM have produced numerous projects, ideas and innovations that protect our citizens, athletes, and soldiers. They have achieved significant research in COVID-19 and diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and others that affect people worldwide. Our researchers have contributed to innovations and technology for educating medical students and other healthcare personnel in the private and military sectors. Our task going forward is to ensure that VCOM prospers and continues to educate some of the nation’s finest physicians for another 20 years.

VCOM’s founding board members

Left to right, standing: James Wolfe, Raymond Smoot, John Cifala, John Rocovich Jr., Roy Heaton, James Bohland, Eugene Zachary. Seated: Dixie Tooke Rawlins, Sue Ellen Rocovich. Not shown: William G. Anderson.

2003

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VCOM Board of Directors

Thomas R. Brock Jr., MBA Vice President General Electric, retired

Nick J. Bruno, PhD President, University of Louisiana Monroe, retired

Sandra Davis Owner, BCR Real Estate & Property Management

Jimmy Gibbs Founder and Chairman of Gibbs International, Inc.

John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM Attorney Chairman

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP President

Roy E. Heaton, DO Retired Physician

Bruce Holstien President and CEO, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System

Gov. James C. Justice II, MBA Governor of West Virginia

Randal J. Kirk, JD Chairman and CEO of Intrexon Corporation

W. Bruce Hanks Board of Directors, CenturyLink, Inc.

Elizabeth McClanahan, JD President; Virginia Tech Foundation, retired Virginia Supreme Court Justice

Christopher Roberts, PhD Auburn University President

Sue Ellen B. Rocovich, DO, PhD Physician and Secretary of VCOM

Jimmy Sanford Chairman; Auburn University Research & Technology Foundation

Raymond D. Smoot, PhD President, Virginia Tech Foundation, Retired

Daniel A. Wubah, PhD President of Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Directors Emeritus The board wishes to thank its past members for their valuable contributions to the success of the College.

1 Indicates founding member * deceased

John A. Cifala, DO 1, *

William G. Anderson, DO 1

James R. Bohland, PhD

Tim Boosinger, DVM, PhD

Neal Castagnoli Jr., PhD 1

James F. Wolfe, PhD 1, * President Emeritus

Donald L. Large Jr., PhD

Steven Leath, PhD Mark McNamee, PhD 1

Jay Gogue, PhD

T. Eugene Zachary, DO 1, *

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 7

The History and the growth of VCOM

Sue Ellen Rocovich, DO, PhD and John G. Rocovich, Jr., JD, LLM Members of the Founding Board of Directors

2001 The College charter is established by the Harvey W. Peters Center Foundation. A collaborative agreement for the public/private partnership is established with Virginia Tech. The College is then incorporated by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

2002 Groundbreaking is held in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. Construction began on the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. The administration begins initial visits to Washington, D.C.

2003 The VCOM building in Blacksburg, Virginia is completed and the first osteopathic medical school in Virginia opens. The first class of students is welcomed by founding dean Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, and president James F. Wolfe, PhD.

VCOM is authorized to recruit and admit students by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), and the United States Department of Education.

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In less than 20 years, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine was founded and grew from one to four campuses. Each branch campus was built to respond to the growing physician shortage and needs of rural and medically underserved areas in their regions. Note: Milestones for each individual campus can be found in the campus section that follows.

M arion Bradley Via, a Virginia philanthropist, created several foundations to benefit Virginia Tech and the Southwest Virginia region, including the Harvey W. Peters Research Center Foundation. Harvey and Freda Peters also made generous bequests to the foundation. Investments from Harvey Peters and Edward Via have generously supported VCOM. Marion Bradley Via believed in the need for a medical school in Southwest Virginia. However, she passed away before her dream was realized. Through the support of Edward Via, her son, and the Harvey

Peters Research Center Foundation, as well as John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM and his wife, Sue Ellen Rocovich, DO, PhD, the new medical school was founded in 2001 in collaboration with Virginia Tech. John Rocovich was serving as the Rector of Virginia Tech at the time. The projected physician shortage of 50,000 to 100,000 physicians by 2010 was apparent in 2001, and the shortage has persisted, with the predictions for the shortage now extending beyond 2030. The physician shortages currently affect rural

(continued)

2004 The College adds its first dedicated research facilities, located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in the RB II building.

2006 VCOM partners with Ministries of Health and other organizations in

2007 VCOM graduates its inaugural class of 139 outstanding physicians. After five site visits with no deficiencies and multiple commendations, VCOM receives its first 7-year accreditation from COCA.

VCOM opens the Sports Medicine Fellowship in

collaboration with Virginia Tech. This collaboration has led to a nationally recognized Sports Medicine program that now includes Auburn University and the University of Louisiana Monroe.

Verón, Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras, to open year-round VCOM clinics providing free medical care, prenatal care and immunizations to thousands of children.

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 9

The History of VCOM (continued)

and medically underserved areas throughout the Southeastern United States.

been part of the family for more than 20 years.

John Rocovich took on the role of board chair and Dr. Sue Ellen Rocovich joined him on the board. Both continue in those roles to this day. Neil Castignoli, who had been the first Via Professor of Chemistry, joined the board of directors. The late James F. Wolfe, PhD, a retired department head in the Department of Chemistry and former vice provost at Virginia Tech, became VCOM’s first president. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, an accomplished osteopathic physician and educator, became the senior vice president and dean and currently serves as president today. Jan Willcox, DO, FACOFP-dist., joined the VCOM family as the associate dean for clinical affairs and research, building clinical relationships with medical facilities across the state. Dr. Willcox became dean of the Virginia campus in 2011.

Building the First Campus Establishing an osteopathic medical college in Blacksburg, Virginia, was an excellent idea. A study performed by the leaders of Virginia Tech revealed that the Southside and Southwest areas of Virginia would experience extreme healthcare shortages, and the three existing medical schools in Virginia, located in the eastern half of the state, had produced a relatively small number of primary care physicians for Southwestern Virginia. The need for more primary care physicians was clear.

Many of the College’s first leaders are familiar names to the VCOM family—in fact, many have

2008 Responding to the primary care shortages in North and South Carolina and in recognition of the high number of enrolled Carolinas students, VCOM

2010 Ground is broken for the first VCOM branch campus, VCOM Carolinas, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, building on the grounds of the historic Spartan Mill. The 278-foot smokestack is preserved to honor its history. Timothy Kowalski, DO, begins as vice dean of the first VCOM branch campus.

The College begins its first post-baccalaureate pre-medical certificate program, providing an avenue for rural and second career students to prepare for medical school or other health careers.

The first VCOM primary care graduates complete their residency programs and return to provide care to underserved areas. The VCOM mission and vision begins being fulfilled through its alumni.

begins plans for a Carolinas campus.

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With funding secured and leadership recruited, VCOM was chartered in 2001 and broke ground on its first building in 2002. The first students arrived in 2003. Those first few years saw the College lean into its mission, offering health clinics in Southwest Virginia communities and establishing international clinics in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and El Salvador. Initial accreditation began in 2003 with enrollment of the first class and full accreditation followed in 2007 with graduation of the first class. The College boasted the findings of no deficiencies in the first five years of site visits with multiple commendations. College Growth and Partnerships As part of the mission, VCOM developed successful collaborative research partnerships with Virginia Tech and built spaces for continuing

biomedical, clinical, pharmaceutical and educational research projects.

A successful sports medicine program and fellowship began with VCOM and Virginia Tech joining together to provide enhanced healthcare to athletes, with a fellowship to train future osteopathic sports medicine specialists. Gunnar Brolinson, DO, was named the head team physician and fellowship director. The program has been replicated on VCOM’s Auburn campus. A second successful relationship with the International Department of Virginia Tech led to the development of an international program providing outreach and sustainable international clinics in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and El Salvador.

2011 Construction on the VCOM Carolinas branch campus is completed. Inaugural medical students begin their education at the Carolinas campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

2012 VCOM and the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation, sign an agreement establishing a branch campus and collaboration on biomedical research and healthcare projects at Auburn University. Elizabeth Palmarozzi, DO, becomes the first vice dean.

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, moves from dean for Virginia to provost and senior dean for VCOM’s Virginia and Carolinas campuses. Jan M. Willcox, DO, FACOFP, becomes vice dean for the Virginia campus.

The first VCOM Alumni Association Reunion is held during the American College of Family Physicians (ACOFP) annual conference in Kissimmee, Florida.

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 11

The History of VCOM (continued)

Growing the VCOM Mission Across the Southeastern United States VCOM leadership, while working to meet the needs of Southwest and Southside Virginia, recognized the need to expand the mission to other areas of the Appalachian region, including the mountainous areas of North Carolina and the Piedmont area of upstate South Carolina. The College opened a clinical site for the students in these areas and it wasn’t long until VCOM was approached by the City of Spartanburg and the Spartanburg Regional Hospital to establish a second campus in South Carolina. The purpose of the campus was to serve the Upstate and rural areas of South Carolina and Western North Carolina. VCOM-Carolinas broke ground in 2010 on the site of the historic Spartan Mill. By 2011, the first students arrived, and the College became

a catalyst for a critical and forward-thinking redevelopment of the area.

In 2011, the president of Auburn University, Jay Gogue, shared his concerns about the physician shortages in Alabama with the president of Virginia Tech. The state of Alabama had experienced shortages in all but six counties, and several counties went without physicians. The president of Virginia Tech shared the news of VCOM’s ongoing success in meeting the needs of rural Virginia in the collaboration with Virginia Tech. Impressed by what was learned, Auburn University soon sought to establish a public/private partnership with VCOM and a campus in Auburn, Alabama. The Campus opened to its first class of medical students in 2015. VCOM-Carolinas saw the graduation of its first class that same year.

2014 VCOM breaks ground in Auburn, Alabama. James F. Wolfe retires as president. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins DO, FACOFP, is named as the second president and provost of VCOM. The vice deans on each branch are promoted to dean of their campus.

2015 Construction is completed for the Auburn campus on Auburn University’s planned health sciences campus. The first class of students begin their medical education at VCOM-Auburn, the third VCOM branch campus. The first Carolinas campus class graduates.

2017 VCOM and Auburn University expand the Sports Medicine Fellowship program to Auburn. The program follows the success of the VCOM/Virginia Tech Sports Medicine Fellowship program. The expansion allows VCOM to recruit four additional fellows per academic year.

The Center for One Health Research is initiated as a

collaborative venture between VCOM and the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM), intended to promote joint VCOM-VMCVM research with a strategic vision for future growth.

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The VCOM-Auburn campus is in the Auburn University Research Park. The first VCOM Auburn class graduated in 2019. Many successful relationships have been established with Auburn University, including those with the nursing school and the pharmacy college to serve many of the unmet needs of populations in Auburn, Opelika and the surrounding area. In addition, research relationships were established with Auburn University’s School of Kinesiology and College of Engineering. Today, many of the VCOM-Auburn graduates who are finishing residency are returning to the East Alabama Medical Center hospital in Opelika and to hospitals throughout the state where they experienced their clinical education. In 2015, VCOM-Carolinas graduated its first class and received full accreditation for the Carolinas campus. The campus maintains the primary care

and rural mission focus with more VCOM-Carolinas graduates practicing in medically underserved areas than the other two medical schools within South Carolina. In 2019, VCOM-Auburn graduated its first class and received full accreditation. In 2017, VCOM was approached by Nick Bruno, PhD, president of the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) and ULM leadership about the possibility of a VCOM campus in Louisiana. The unmet needs of Northern Louisiana were indeed evident and the Rural Hospital Coalition joined ULM in the proposal. By 2020, with all state and national accreditation approvals met, the new VCOM-Louisiana building was constructed on the ULM campus and the first class enrolled. In 2024, the first class will graduate from the VCOM-Louisiana ULM campus.

2018 After initial licensing and

2019 Averett University and VCOM collaborate on an exclusive two year online Master of Science in applied healthcare data analytics program. As compared to the other Averett data analytics master’s program, this additional program offers a specific focus on the complex data needs of healthcare organizations.

The first Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MABS) program, in partnership with Bluefield University, opens to students. MABS is a one-year program when most programs are two years. The program elevates a student’s potential for success in applying to medical school or healthcare fields.

VCOM-Auburn’s inaugural Class of 2019 graduates at Auburn Arena. U.S. News and World Report listed that VCOM ranked highest with 93% of VCOM graduates admitted to their first choice of residency specialty.

approvals, ground is broken for VCOM’s fourth location at the University of Louisiana Monroe campus. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards was in attendance among many other state and local dignitaries. Ray Morrison, DO, becomes founding dean.

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 13

The History of VCOM (continued)

Advancing a Mission of Excellence All four VCOM campuses boast excellent outcomes with a 94%, 96%, 97% and 99% first time pass rate on national board exams on the four campuses. The quality of VCOM graduates has become well known to residency programs in the Southeast United States and the College boasts a 99% to 100% residency match rate each year. As to meeting the mission: Over 70% of VCOM graduates have now entered primary care and 67% of alumni in practice are located in a rural setting or a setting designated federally as a medically underserved community.

Beyond the medical school campuses, to meet the needs of the rural areas of the states where the VCOM campuses are located, VCOM has developed many clinical hospital partnerships for student education and has continually supported the development of new residency programs. The hospitals for clinical training are shown later in this report. Advancing healthcare in underserved communities includes more than educating physicians, and VCOM continues to collaborate with other institutions to support healthcare programs. In 2019, VCOM partnered with Averett University to develop a Master of Science in Applied Healthcare and Data Analytics program that prepares

2020 CDC restrictions for the COVID-19 epidemic close in-person classes. VCOM

2021 The HWPRF brings the Appalachian College of

The Class of 2020 graduates with the first virtual online ceremonies across all three existing campuses. There were over 31,000 views of the videos, watched in 49 states in the U.S. and 45 countries from around the world. More than 800 videos were downloaded by viewers.

Construction is completed on the VCOM-Louisiana campus, ready for its inaugural class of students. All campuses start the 2020 2021 academic school year in the summer with classroom lectures online and safe distanced on-campus learning in labs.

Pharmacy (2020) and Bluefield University into the consortium. Mark Sanders, DO, begins his role as the second dean for the Louisiana campus. Heath A. Parker, DO, joins VCOM-Auburn as the second dean for the campus.

students don’t miss a single class or test due to VCOM TV and other in-place online programs. Matthew Cannon, DO, becomes the second dean for the Carolinas campus.

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students to use data analytics to solve major problems facing the healthcare industry. VCOM also developed several significant educational partnerships with colleges that are now owned by the Harvey W. Peters Research Foundation (HWPRF), including the Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP), which offers a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in Southwest Virginia, where both institutions share interprofessional educational experiences for students. In July 2018, VCOM began a collaboration with Bluefield University (BU) to offer a Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MABS) program with the purpose of preparing rural students to meet the academic challenges of medical school. VCOM has also recently partnered with BU to offer a

Master of Health Science in Anesthesia on the VCOM-Auburn campus, with plans to develop a similar program for its South Carolina campus in the future. VCOM’s future is bright. With more than 5,000 alumni physicians practicing in our nation, VCOM has become the largest medical school in the Southeastern United States and continues its focus on assuring those patients in most need will have access to care. As VCOM’s milestone of 20 years of educating future physicians has been realized, the College looks forward to the future to see what it will achieve in the next 20 years.

2022 VCOM partners with SOUTHCOM to provide opportunities for military scholarship medical students and VCOM faculty to serve on the USNS Comfort hospital ship, providing humanitarian outreach in Latin America and Caribbean regions.

2023 VCOM graduates 471 new

The 20th class of students, the Class of 2026, enters the halls of VCOM’s first campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, for the 2022-2023 academic year, marking the College’s milestone of 20 years of educating future physicians.

Located at VCOM-Auburn, the Master of Health Science in Anesthesia (MHSA) Program is a joint collaboration between VCOM and Bluefield University. Graduates are eligible to take the certification exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA).

osteopathic physicians across three campuses, for a total of over 5,000 alumni fulfilling the VCOM mission by going out into their communities to serve the areas of most need. Ron Januchowski, DO, becomes the third campus dean at VCOM-Virginia.

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 15

Direct Community Impact for Economic Growth

T he Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) was established as a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), private medical school by the Harvey W. Peters Research Foundation (HWPRF). The foundation provided VCOM with the initial funding and escrow account for its four campuses.

2 %

2 %

6 %

7 %

Total Economic Impact for all Campuses $1,701,474,650 2003–2023 2 % 6 % 7 % 2 % Total Economic Impact for all Campuses $1,701,474,650 2003–2023

39 %

12 %

39 %

12 %

32 %

VCOM has never required state funds for operations or construction, resulting in no cost to the state taxpayer.

32 %

$112,599,847 Other Local Operating $197,454,116 Salaries & Bene ts $547,974,223 Students $660,686,502 Construction Facilities & Leases $105,852,232 $112,599,847 Other Local Operating $197,454,116 Salaries & Bene ts $547,974,223 Students $660,686,502 Construction

Facilities & Leases College Af liations Health Clinics

$35,123,433 $41,788,997

$105,852,232 $35,123,433 $41,788,997

Health Clinics VCOM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization.

College Af liations

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Economic Impact of Individual VCOM Campuses

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 17

How VCOM Alumni Benefit the Economy of This Nation

T he National Center for the Analysis of Healthcare Data (NCAHD) conducted alumni tracking analysis on the fourteen non resident classes of alumni (3,132), finding 3,109 actively practicing (99%) in the United States. More than 70% of the alumni currently practice in VCOM’s target region. Physician economic impact research recently published by IQVIA (a research institute), conducted for the AMA of their physician Masterfile and IMPLAN data, was utilized by NCAHD in analyzing all of VCOM’s alumni. VCOM’s National Center for Rural Health Works recently updated the Primary Care Physician economic impact modeling tool, which was used to determine the impact of the primary care alumni. The state, local and federal tax data are national average values generated by the Tax Foundation.org and represent taxes generated on output spending which is a combination of operating expenses spent by the physicians practicing medicine.

RESULT: N ationally, VCOM alumni have created more than 290,000 jobs, over $53.8 billion in revenues and $24.1 billion in wages, salaries and benefits to the communities they serve across the nation over the last 14 years as they have practiced medicine. Within VCOM’s target region (see map on page 72) , our alumni have created nearly 197,000 jobs, more than $36.6 billion in revenue and $16.4 billion in wages, salaries and benefits. With more than 55% of VCOM alumni practicing a primary care specialty in rural (50%) and medically underserved areas (70%), the financial and employment impact contributes significantly to the stability of the communities they serve.

Using the IQVIA national multipliers, our economic impact research measures the direct, indirect and induced impact that VCOM alumni have upon the nation and our target region. The direct impacts include their patient revenue, jobs created, wages and benefits, and state and local tax revenues. The indirect impact measures the same impacts generated by the industries supported by physicians (e.g., nursing homes, pharmacies, laboratories, etc.). The induced effect measures the additional spending in the same impacts caused through spending from the support industries. For the primary care economic impact analysis, our multipliers reflect research that specifically measures the impact that many primary care physicians have upon a local clinic and the referring hospitals.

The Cumulative Non-Resident VCOM Practicing Alumni 2007-2019 Economic Impact Analysis*

Number of Graduate Physicians**

Total Output (Revenue) ($ in billions)*

Wages, Salaries & Benefits ($ in billions)***

State and Local Tax Revenue ($ in billions)***

Federal Tax Revenue ($ in billions)***

Total Jobs Created*

NATIONAL AND TARGET REGION (S outheastern United States) COMBINED ANALYSIS

All VCOM Alumni Primary Care Only

3,109 1,567

$53.8 $22.4

290,122 $188,730

$24.21

$12.2

$36.7 $14.9

$13.8

$5.0

APPALACHIAN AND DELTA TARGET REGION ONLY ANALYSIS

Target Region Alumni Primary Care Only

2,116 1,121

$36.6 $16.0

197,380 $135,233

$16.4

$8.3 $3.5

$24.8 $10.6

$9.9

*** All Physician multipliers values were compilated by NCAHD from the 2015 research conductd by the IQVIA for the AMA and Primary Care multipliers came from VCOM’s National Center for Rural Health Works (2019) https://ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/media-browser/public/2018-ama-economic-impact study.pdf *** The physician data was provided by NCAHD from the 2023 Enhanced Stat Licensure (ESL). https://www.ncahd.org/esl-data/ *** The national average state/local and federal tax rates came from taxfoundation.org

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Highlights of the Cumulative Analysis Including the United States and the Target Southeastern Appalachian and Delta Regions ECONOMIC IMPACT VCOM Alumni in Practice Not including residencies - Classes of 2007-2019

3,109 Practicing Alumni Physicians (not including alumni currently in residency)

$ 53.8 BILLION Total Revenue

Total Jobs Created 290,122

Wages, Salaries & Benefits $ 24.1 BILLION

Federal Tax Revenue $ 36.7 BILLION

State & Local Tax Revenue

$ 12.2 BILLION

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 19

Awards & Honors I t is a great honor to be recognized for the service and

at the conference • 2010 American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians Student Club of the Year Award • Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce–Business of the Year • AT Still Osteopathic Cup Champion • AACOM Excellence in Communication Award–Best Program: Public Education or Community Service, 1st place for VCOM Pediatric-themed Mission Trip to Five orphanages in El Salvador • American Heart Association Heartwalk Outstanding Team • Western Virginia Chapter of the American Advertising Federation Silver ADDY ® Award for the 2010 Annual Report and Yearbook • Rawlins, DO • SOMA National Northrup Educator of the Year awarded to the Vice Dean for Post-Baccalaureate Education • AACOM Excellence in Communications Award – Best Community Service Program • 3rd place Blacksburg Fork & Cork–Can-Do Award winners • AACOM Excellence in Communications Award – Best Community Service Program • 3rd Place–Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards–Awarded to ninety-five VCOM Physician/Faculty members • 2012 Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards–Awarded to over seventy VCOM Physician/Faculty members • Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District III–Grand Award winner Printed Publications–Annual Reports for the 2011 Annual Report and Yearbook • 2011 American Osteopathic Foundation Educator of the Year Award–presented to Dixie Tooke

Kind publication • Virginia Tech and VT Board of Visitors–Certificate of Appreciation & Admiration for support given during April 16th event • Clinton Global Initiative Award for work in Veron, Dominican Republic • Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce–Small Business of the Year Award nominee • Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathic Medicine–Most Improved Chapter of the Year • Fourth Annual Via Research Recognition Day, numerous faculty and students win awards for research poster presentations • 2008 Southwest Virginia Walk of Fame Inductee • Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathy Chapter of the Year • Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathy Outreach Chapter of the Year • Fifth Annual Via Research Recognition Day, many faculty and students win wards for poster presentations • AACOM Excellence in Communications Award–2nd Place to VCOM Flood Relief Missions booklet for best program: Public Education or Community Service • 2009 Student Chapter of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine Chapter of the Year • Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards given to fifty-four VCOM-Virginia Physician/Faculty members • First annual Golden Apple Awards presented to Biomedical and Clinical Faculty Member of the Year by VCOM Students – each year two more are awarded • Sixth Annual Via Research Recognition Day, VCOM faculty and students win awards for research posters presented

2004 United Way Community Support Appreciation Award • First Annual Via Research Recognition Day, numerous faculty and students win 1st place ribbons for research poster presentations • 2005 Virginia Rural Health Association - Friend of the Association Award for support of VRHA initiatives • Arthritis Walk Premier Sponsor Award • Council of Student Government Presidents • TOUCH Award (Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health) • Second Annual Via Research Recognition Day, numerous faculty and students win awards for research poster presentations • 2006 President’s Higher Education Community Service Award • First Annual VCOM Student Clinician Awards Ceremony–VCOM Faculty/Preceptors in each discipline were awarded plaques •Third Annual Via Research Recognition Day, faculty and students recognized for research • 2007 AACOM Excellence in Communication Award, 1st place Best Newsletter and 1st place Best One-of-a projects that are core to the VCOM mission. These are a few of the many awards the students, faculty and staff of the college have received over the last 20 years.

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AACOM Excellence in Communication Award–3rd place Best Video for the 2011 Profiles Series video segment • Seventh Annual Via Research Recognition Day–ribbons for poster presentations awarded to VCOM faculty and staff research projects • National Role Model award for Enhancing Diversity to Overcome Disparities in Health and Education from Minority Access, Inc. • 2013 Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards – Our Health magazine 116 awards went to 113 VCOM Clinical Faculty members • Minority Access, Inc. Role Model Award • Silver ADDY ® award for the 2012 10th Anniversary Special Edition Annual Report and Yearbook from the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Roanoke Chapter • Eighth Annual Via Research Recognition Day – ribbons for poster presentations awarded to VCOM faculty, student and staff research projects • VCOM-Virginia Sports Medicine AOASM student organization chapter received National Chapter of the Year – 3rd time in four years • 2014 Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce Award for Landscaping Excellence • Minority Access, Inc. Role Model Award • Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards – Our

Health magazine awarded to 67 VCOM Virginia Clinical Faculty members • Honors Award for 2013 VCOM Annual Report in the International Annual Report Competition (ARC) Awards program • Collegiate Advertising Awards – Gold Award for 2013 Annual Report and Yearbook • 2015 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Alabama chapter, awarded a first-place Eagle Award to VCOM’s Contractor Brasfield & Gorrie for Excellence in Construction of the VCOM Auburn campus • Minority Access, Inc. Role Model Award • American Advertising Federation 2015 Western Virginia Advertising Awards - Silver ADDY ® Award for Magazine Design • Collegiate Advertising Awards: 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze Awards • Silver Award for 2014 Annual Report in the International Annual Report Competition (ARC) Awards program • Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards – Our Health magazine, awarded to 70 VCOM-Virginia Clinical Faculty members • 2016 American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) presented the William D. Miller Award to VCOM Chair and Founder, John G. Rocovich, Jr., JD, LLM - given annually to those deserving individuals for their

outstanding contributions that demonstrably advance the osteopathic profession • Minority Access, Inc. Role Model Award • Virginia Living’s Top High Schools and Colleges List, for VCOM Virginia • Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards – Our Health magazine, awarded to 70 VCOM Clinical Faculty members • American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Second place award for Best Advertising for the VCOM-Auburn campus • Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Southeast District III Advancement Awards Special Merit (continued)

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 21

Awards and Honors (2014 continued)

award for Magazine/Tabloid Improvement • Annual Report

and 3 Silver awards • Gold Summit Award for the 2017 Annual Report, Blue Ridge chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) • Bronze and Honors Award for 2017 Annual Report in the International Annual Report Competition (ARC) Awards program • 2018 • Virginia Living’s Top High Schools and Colleges List, for VCOM Virginia • Minority Access, Inc. Role Model Award • VCOM-Carolinas received the Outstanding Nonprofit Organization Award for diverse student recruitment and programs that work with underserved and rural communities • Dixie Tooke-Rawlins: Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians • Silver ADDY ® Award, Western Virginia Chapter of the American Advertising Federation • Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards – Our Health magazine, awarded to 90 VCOM Clinical Faculty members • Collegiate Advertising Awards, 3 Gold and 3 Silver awards • Gold Summit Award for the 2018 Annual Report, Blue Ridge chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) • Gold and Honors Awards from the Annual Report Competition (ARC) International Awards • 2019 Auburn Beautification Award 2019, presented to VCOM-Auburn by the Auburn Beautification Council • VCOM Virginia was awarded the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce’s 2019

Nonprofit Organization of the Year • Minority Access, Inc. Role Model Award • Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine • Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards – Our Health magazine, awarded to over 70 VCOM Clinical Faculty members • Virginia Living’s Top High Schools and Colleges List, for VCOM-Virginia • The Virginia Network for Women in Higher Education named Dr Dixie Tooke Rawlins to receive its inaugural Outstanding Leadership Award • 2019 Silver ADDY ® Award, Printed Annual Report, Roanoke AAF chapter of the American Advertising Federation • Collegiate Advertising Awards, 3 Gold and 1 Silver award • Annual Report Competition (ARC) International Awards for VCOM’s 2019 Annual Report: 1 Silver, 1 Bronze and 1 Honors awards • Gold Summit Award for the 2019 VCOM Annual Report, Blue Ridge chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) • 2020 VCOM-Auburn received the Auburn Chamber of Commerce Eagle Award at the 2020 Annual Meeting Presented to businesses or individuals who have made broad contributions to the Auburn community for 5 or more years • Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine • Virginia Living’s Top Schools and Colleges List, for VCOM-Virginia • Annual Report Competition (ARC) International Awards, August 2020, for VCOM’s 2020 Annual Report: Gold and Bronze awards • Four 2020 Silver ADDY ® Awards, Roanoke AAF chapter of the American Advertising Federation • Seven Collegiate Advertising Awards: 3 Gold, 4 Silver awards • Three Silver Summit Awards, Blue Ridge chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) • AACOM Educating Leaders 2020 - Innovation in Clinical Medical Education – Marguerite Elliot Award • VCOM-Auburn – Deans’ Fit Family

Competition (ARC) International Bronze Award for 2016 Annual Report • Blue Ridge chapter of the Public Relations Society of America - Silver Summit Award - awarded to Access Advertising, Inc and VCOM for the redesign of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine’s website • Collegiate Advertising Awards, 3 Gold and 1 Silver awards • 2017 Best Value School Award, bestvaluecollegescom – University Research and Review • Minority Access, Inc. Role Model Award • Virginia Living’s Top High Schools and Colleges List, for VCOM-Virginia • Annual Best Bedside Manner Awards – Our Health magazine Awarded to 70 VCOM Clinical Faculty members • Collegiate Advertising Awards: 3 Gold

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2021 Printed Annual Report • 2023 The 2023 Volunteer UNITED Award winner was VCOM-Louisiana from the United Way of Northeast Louisiana • Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine • VCOM-Auburn won the 5th Annual Dean’s Fit Family Challenge Award - 8-week health and wellness competition between Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University College of Nursing and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)-Auburn • VCOM has been named in the top ten in the country for Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields by the US News and World Report in 2023 • VCOM also ranked among the top third of medical schools in the nation for 2023 in the following categories: Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Needy Areas and Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas by U.S. News & World Report • 2024 • VCOM-Carolinas is the 2024 recipient of the Michael Jarrett Customer Service Award from the South Carolina Public Health Association (SCPHA) • VCOM Carolinas received the Peggy Thompson Gignilliat Award for Historic Preservation

Challenge Award – A competition between healthcare colleges (VCOM, Auburn University School of Nursing, and Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy) • 2021 VCOM-Louisiana received Monroe Chamber of Commerce’s Thomas H Scott Large Business of the Year Award – Economic Development • Silver Summit Award from the Blue Ridge chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) 25th Annual Summit Awards • Collegiate Advertising Award Winners – Four Gold and Three Silver Awards • 2022 • VCOM-Carolinas was recognized as a Community Hero by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for its COVID-19 response efforts • VCOM-Louisiana received West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce – Community Champion – Volunteer Efforts • VCOM-Louisiana SOMA – Golden Tibia – New SOMA Chapter of the Year (established within the last five years) • Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity

in Spartanburg County for the preservation and restoration of the DuPre House awarded by the Spartanburg County Historical Association In addition to these awards listed here, hundreds more have been presented to researchers, student organizations, individual faculty members, students and staff. VCOM looks forward to 20 more years of being recognized for excellence in innovation, osteopathic education and research.

(HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine • Collegiate

Advertising Awards, 7 Gold, 3 Silver • 2022 American Advertising Federation (AAF) - Roanoke Silver ADDY ® award for

THE HISTORY OF VCOM 23

OUR CAMPUSES

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VCOM-Virginia over the past twenty years

From an empty spot in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Park to a state-of the-art medical school, the Virginia campus construction took place from 2002 to 2003.

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