VCOM View Magazine Vol. 13 | No. 1

“It’s important for people in the business community to be involved in the volunteer board service,” Jack notes. “It’s good for the community to have the advantage of the expertise of people who are successful businesspeople and can translate that into successful management of nonprofits or community issues.” Clearly, the Davises have a deep love for and commitment to the New River Valley community, which underpins their generous giving to organizations across the valley, including VCOM. Because of that commitment and Sandy’s experience growing up in a rural community, the couple was recently inspired to make a significant contribution to the VCOM, establishing the Sandra C. and William C. Davis Medical 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 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. Both Jack and Sandy understand the impact that a lack of physicians can have on a community. “What appeals to me,” says Jack, “is the probability that a significant portion of these graduates will remain in the region and bring medical care to areas that either don’t have it or that are seriously underserved.” Jack and Sandy hope that their scholarship will increase access to healthcare for communities across Southwest Virginia, and they hope that the 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. “[The scholarship] made good sense, and it covers two bases that are important to us: community college as well as VCOM. It offers a nice way to encourage both.”

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