VCOM 2025 Annual Report

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A Commitment to Caring for Rural Virginia Jordan Saunders, VCOM-Virginia ’22

J ordan Saunders, DO, VCOM-Virginia ’22, discovered early that medicine aligned with his interests and values. Inspired by science fairs, his father’s work as a respiratory therapist, and accompanying his grandfather to diabetes appointments, he saw firsthand how physicians guide patients through complex health challenges. “There wasn’t one big ‘aha’ moment,” he says. “It was more that everything seemed to line up.” He planned to attend Virginia Tech for undergraduate studies but knew little about osteopathic medicine until a VCOM-Virginia open house introduced him to its philosophy. “When I heard that the body is a unit—mind, body, and spirit—that resonated with my Christian faith,” he says. “You don’t neglect parts of the person when you’re treating them.”

Through a partnership with VCOM, the Tazewell Community Foundation established a scholarship for students who commit to returning to practice primary care in the region after residency. Dr. Saunders was among its first recipients. “It alleviated stress for our family and made me feel like I was part of something bigger,” he says. In 2025, he completed his residency at East Tennessee State University and returned to Tazewell, where he now practices primary care. He quickly recognized the depth of need. “Some of our patients drive an hour to see us,” he says. “Specialists can be difficult to access, so we often manage conditions that might otherwise be referred out.” The foundation’s investment in Dr. Saunders was, ultimately, an investment in the long-term health of the Tazewell community.

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