VCOM 2023 Annual Report

VCOM-Auburn: Partnering with Auburn University to bring physicians to the areas of most need.

A uburn University saw the shortage of primary care physicians in the state of Alabama. As a land-grant institution, the mission of Auburn University is to improve the lives of the people of Alabama, the nation and the world through forward thinking education, life-enhancing research and scholarship and selfless service. When they began a search to start a medical school on the campus, it became evident that VCOM’s mission and theirs were compatible, with each institution having the same goals for research and serving those in need. With the great success of the public/private partnership of VCOM-Virginia and Virginia Tech for education and research, it was clear that starting a campus in Auburn would greatly benefit those areas of the state with few or no

The VCOM-Auburn History Timeline

2014 VCOM breaks ground in the Auburn Research Park in Auburn, Alabama. Construction begins for the new branch campus. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, becomes president and provost for VCOM, and Elizabeth Palmarozzi, DO, becomes the dean for the Auburn 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 White Coat ceremony is held in the fall.

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.

VCOM and Auburn University expand the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship program to Auburn. The expansion allowed VCOM to recruit four additional fellows per academic year in addition to those in the VCOM Virginia program. The Auburn program supports and provides care for Auburn Tiger athletes.

54