VCOM View Magazine Vol. 14 | No. 1

by Amy Ostroth Mobilizing Compassion S tudents often choose VCOM because of the College’s rural mission and the opportunity to serve. But, they don’t have to wait until equipment. It is nimble enough to reach remote areas, and drivers do not need a commercial driver’s license to operate it. “By meeting patients where they are, we’re VCOM’s Mobile Medical Units Deliver Care and Training Across Communities

after graduation to make a difference. The VCOM Carolinas and VCOM-Louisiana mobile medical units (MMUs) are transforming healthcare access while simultaneously shaping the next generation of osteopathic physicians. Similarly, a new unit in Honduras has allowed VCOM’s international outreach team to expand beyond the walls of their permanent clinics. A Clinic on Wheels in the Carolinas VCOM-Carolinas has been operating a mobile medical program since 2020, and in March 2025, the campus unveiled a new state-of-the-art unit. Designed to bring essential healthcare services to the underserved areas of Upstate South Carolina, the upgraded MMU includes two private exam rooms, a waiting area, a restroom, and advanced diagnostic

breaking down barriers to healthcare access,” said Matt Cannon, DO, dean of VCOM-Carolinas. “This new unit also enhances our ability to prepare future physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved areas.” The Carolinas MMU offers weekly clinics, quarterly medical mission trips, and pop-up services in partnership with organizations like St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic, the Free Medical Clinic of Cherokee County and the Samaritan Health Clinic. With the unit, the College has helped deliver more than 1,300 vaccines, screened over 300 individuals for STIs, and facilitated wellness outreach including free meals and preventive health education for thousands of individuals. In 2024, VCOM-Carolinas medical outreach provided primary care services to just over 1,000 patients.

Celebrating the new mobile medical units at VCOM-Louisiana.

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