VCOM 2024 Annual Report

A Vision for the Future of Rural Healthcare John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM Chairman, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

O ur mission at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is rooted in service. Since VCOM’s founding, I have had the privilege of working alongside many dedicated leaders, faculty, and staff who share a commitment to the mission. In addition, I take pride in the accomplishments of our amazing students and alumni. Together, we are shaping healthcare for generations to follow. America continues to face a growing healthcare crisis. The need for primary care physicians and physicians who will practice in rural and medically underserved areas continues to grow. Today, nearly 20% of the U.S. population lives in a rural area, and these communities have far fewer physicians than their urban counterparts. The result is a population with high rates of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and fewer healthcare professionals available to provide care. However, these rural areas are not alone in having citizens who face challenges in finding healthcare. The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a healthcare shortage for up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, affecting both primary and specialty care. VCOM is answering this call. Our commitment to recruiting students from our target states in the Southeast United States, especially from the Appalachian and Delta areas, will help assure a future physician workforce for those states. Our educational partnerships with community-based hospitals provide a high

quality education that prepares our graduates to work in these medically underserved areas and to meet the challenges they will face. As chairman, along with our board, we work to ensure VCOM remains strong academically, financially, and institutionally so we can continue to fulfill the mission for generations to come. Medical education is a significant investment for our students, so we are committed to keeping our tuition as low as possible and to offering our students benefits such as health insurance and disability. As a board, we continue to seek donations for scholarships. The rewards are profound for students choosing careers in medicine that will serve those from rural and medically underserved areas. Through scholarships and loan repayment programs that provide financial relief, our graduate physicians experience the deep personal satisfaction of making a difference where it is needed most. For VCOM graduates, it is more than a profession—it is a calling to serve. “Today, nearly 20% of the U.S. population lives in a rural area, and these communities have far fewer physicians than their urban counterparts.”

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