VCOM View Magazine Vol. 14 | No. 1

projected to get worse in future years” said Mike Nichols, dean of the anesthesiology assistant programs at VCOM. “Training anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) is a vital step forward, because the program provides AAs to assist anesthesiologists to care for more patients. In addition, AAs are given complete training and education without pulling from the nursing profession, where critical shortages also exist.” The need for these programs is clear. Not only is there a severe workforce shortage, but there are currently only 23 educational programs in the country, offering just 585 seats annually to a pool of nearly 6,000 applicants. These new programs reflect VCOM’s ongoing commitment to addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages throughout the southeastern United States. The Southeast has been particularly hard-hit by the shortage of anesthesia providers—an issue exacerbated by rapid population growth and limited graduate medical education slots due to federal residency caps. These shortages not only reduce access to care but also increase healthcare costs, as hospitals compete to attract qualified professionals. “Adding this program at VCOM-Virginia, in continuing collaborative partnership between the institutions within the Harvey Peters Research Foundation including VCOM and Bluefield

University, and with the hospitals in our region to educate and train highly skilled CAAs, will directly benefit the Commonwealth,” noted Dixie Tooke Rawlins, DO, president of VCOM. “Moreover, it would provide future students in Virginia with access to an exceptional educational opportunity in their home state and enable them to contribute meaningfully to their communities as an AA.”

More information is available at the MHSA program website, and those interested in applying to one of VCOM’s current programs can contact the program directly at MHSAAdmissions@vcom.edu .

fall 2025 | VCOM V iew M agazine 29