VCOM 2025 Annual Report

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From Vision to Lasting Impact How VCOM grew from a single campus to four campuses serving the Southeast

F ounded to address a growing national physician shortage and persistent gaps in access to care, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) was established in 2001 through a public-private partnership with Virginia Tech. Its creation was driven by leaders of the Harvey W. Peters Research Foundation, who identified an acute shortage of physicians—particularly in rural and medically underserved regions of Southwest Virginia and the broader Appalachian region. A 2002 national study projecting a shortfall of more than 100,000 physicians underscored the urgency of the College’s mission. With philanthropic leadership from Marian Bradley Via, Edward Via, and longtime advocates John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, and Sue Ellen Rocovich, DO, PhD, VCOM welcomed its first class of students to its Blacksburg, Virginia, campus in 2003. The College earned full accreditation in 2007, graduating its inaugural class and quickly establishing a reputation for producing community-focused physicians prepared to serve where the need is greatest. From the outset, VCOM paired medical education with community clinics, international outreach, and collaborative research partnerships with Virginia Tech.

As physician shortages persisted across the Southeast, VCOM expanded its mission geographically. VCOM-Carolinas opened in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in 2011, followed by VCOM-Auburn in Alabama in 2015 through a partnership with Auburn University. Each campus was intentionally located to strengthen regional healthcare workforces and expand access in underserved communities. In 2020, VCOM-Louisiana welcomed its first class on the campus of the University of Louisiana Monroe, addressing critical needs in northern Louisiana. Today, VCOM is one of the nation’s largest medical schools, with four campuses united by a shared mission. More than 60% of its graduates practice in primary care, ensuring that the College’s founding commitment—to serve communities most in need— continues to shape its future.