VCOM View Magazine Vol. 12 | No. 1

Garnett Smith with his wife Patsy

Juanita Thomas

and remembers seeing all the other people battling the disease. “My wife would always look around the room and tell me ‘Whatever we can do to help these women, we need to do it.’ She was always cognizant of the type of cancer she had and the impact it had on women, especially,” he remembers. As a result, it is not surprising that Garnett, who is Southwest Virginia native, has been a generous supporter of VCOM. His most recent gift honors these three wonderful women and provides scholarships to VCOM students. “It’s a legacy gift that will keep on giving after I’m gone,” he says. “And it’s a way to honor these women who played such a major role in my life.” Two scholarships were awarded in December 2022 to Zachary Simmons and Chris Conley, who are second year VCOM students. Both are native to Giles County, Virginia.

Zach Simmons spent a lot of time on his grandparents’ farm in Narrows, Virginia, learning to work the land and care for the farm’s animals. “I was given the opportunity to learn things the hard way at a young age,” he remembers. “I would not change any of that because of where it has brought me today, a current medical student with a desire to serve rural, underserved communities.” Prior to coming to VCOM, Zach completed degrees at New River Community College and Virginia Tech. He also worked as a medical scribe at Carilion Clinic, where he met many VCOM alumni, coming to understand the College’s mission and exactly what it takes to be a successful physician. “VCOM’s mission fits my personal background and current desires perfectly,” he says. Like many VCOM graduates, he plans to return to his home community to practice. “I know that

this area will benefit from a physician who can manage issues ranging from glucose levels all the way to removal of an inflamed appendix,” he says. “That’s why I want to become a rural surgeon with critical care experience. I know VCOM will give me the opportunity to fulfill everything I want to do with my future profession.” Like Zach, Chris Conley grew up in Giles County and attended New River Community College before earning a bachelor’s degree.The Radford University alumnus originally thought that he wanted to be a teacher, but says he knew he wanted to be a doctor when the staff at Carilion Roanoke Memorial hospital saved his mother’s life following a coronary artery dissection and heart attack. Chris particularly values his interactions with his VCOM faculty. “I doubt he knows it, but Brian Ekey, DO, offered a classroom experience that stood out,” Chris recalls. “He

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