VCOM 2023 Annual Report

International Outreach Timeline and Reflections (continued)

T he VCOM mission trips give VCOM students an opportunity to have hands-on training in a unique clinical setting. They are immersed into a different culture, to practice medicine with guidance from VCOM faculty as well as local physicians who serve the population on a daily basis. I feel these experiences help them to be creative about using available resources to provide compassionate care. As a prior student and now attending, these trips

help to reinforce VCOM’s mission for meeting the needs of medically underserved populations. Jonah Flowers, DO

VCOM-Louisiana Associate Chair for Family Medicine for Rural and Medically Underserved Areas and Director for Diversity and Inclusion, Virginia Class of 2008 graduate

2011 VCOM sends an ultrasound machine to the clinic in the Dominican Republic and provides a two-week training program for clinic staff. Construction is completed on a new addition to the clinic facility in the Dominican Republic.

2013 VCOM is recognized on the Presidents Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, one of only two medical schools to be included. VCOM was also listed in the 2014 2015 honor roll.

Oscar de la Renta Pediatric Center opens in Veron, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, helping serve more than 100 children per day. The public/ private strategic alliance to build the hospital is formed by the VCOM, Grupo Punta Cana Foundation, Akron Children’s Hospital and several health ministries.

Students from the Appalachian School of Pharmacy and Presbyterian School of Pharmacy join VCOM on international outreach trips. The Verón Clinic in the Dominican Republic adds an emergency room, new waiting area, new patient record system and separate pediatric waiting area.

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