VCOM 2024 Annual Report

Davis Memorial Scholarship Helps Community College Graduates on Their Path to Becoming Physicians

S andra and William “Jack” Davis are active members of the Blacksburg, Virginia, community. Sandy currently serves on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, the VCOM Board of Directors, the Carilion NRV Board of Directors, and the New River Community College Board of Directors. Jack’s community service reflects his interests in history, public broadcasting and education. He is currently serving on the Radford University Board of Visitors and is also the chair for the Blue Ridge PBS Board of Directors. The couple’s community activism extends to their philanthropic contributions. They were recently inspired to make a significant contribution to the VCOM, establishing the Sandra C. and William C. Davis Memorial Scholarship, with preference given to students who graduated from a Virginia community college. The mission of VCOM—to recruit and train physicians who will provide care to rural and underserved communities—is an excellent match for the work of community colleges, which enroll nearly half of all colleges students and provide

scholarship will inspire those who receive it to pay it forward to the next generation. Of course, the couple also hopes to ease the financial burden of medical school, especially for students who may be the first in their families to attend college. “With the scholarship, there is a chance for these young men and women to get out of medical school without having crushing debt, which in turn will allow them to practice in a rural area instead of having to go to a population center where they can earn more to pay off all that debt,” notes Jack.

“With the scholarship, there is a chance for these young men and women to get out of medical school without having crushing debt.”

educational opportunities that some students would not otherwise be able to access. Community colleges play a role in workforce development, local economic development and professional training. Many community college students and VCOM students ultimately stay close to home to practice their professions.

Jack and Sandy hope that their scholarship will increase access to

healthcare for communities across Southwest Virginia, and they hope that the

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