VCOM View Vol 10 No 1

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Scholarships Help to Create More Rural Physicians

Y our support helps to provide funding for students to attend VCOM and return back to rural and medically underserved areas to serve their communities. Support from alumni, friends, foundations and corporations helps to improve access to care for families throughout the southeast and Delta regions of the country. Miranda Cox, DO, VCOM-Virginia Class of 2020 and recipient of the West Virginia Science Foundation Scholarship, is a perfect example of the positive impact private support has on helping VCOM graduates return back to their communities to practice medicine after residency. What makes rural southwest Virginia and West Virginia appealing to you? I love the peacefulness of the mountains and beautiful scenery. When I go shopping in Bland at the local store in front of the courthouse, it feels as if I’m in a Hallmark movie! The people are so friendly, and there is no traffic! Why did you select Family Medicine as your area of focus? I love how family medicine allows me to do a little bit of everything. At my current residency program, I may perform a newborn exam in the morning, deliver a baby a few hours later and see geriatric patients in the clinic that afternoon. What are you most looking forward to practicing in your area of focus? I’m so excited to return to my hometown and practice in a small local hospital where everyone knows each other. Where did you grow up? Bland, Virginia

It will be a real honor to take care of the people that share my Appalachian heritage. These are people I attend church with, see at the grocery store or interact with on a regular basis. I also can’t wait to start a small farm with my husband after residency! What makes a rural practice unique compared to an urban setting? I think it requires you to be willing to play a more diverse role. Rural family physicians will often practice in ERs and have hospital privileges, whereas in larger cities you may only see emergency medicine physicians in the ER. Many times, larger practices will have access to many resources, such as a diabetes educator. I’ve learned that sometimes you won’t be able get your patient access to these providers, but you can still share with them your knowledge. I enjoy this challenge. I also hope I can help establish more resources in my community. I’m so thankful for the awesome providers that have already begun to do this in my hometown. How does it feel to be a recipient of the West Virginia Science recipient. I am the first person in my family to go college. The worry and stress of how I was going to pay for my education has always been on my mind. I think many people don’t realize how much student debt young physicians have acquired today. However, as a scholarship recipient I am now able to focus on my calling: treating patients and working towards my goals of becoming a great physician for my hometown. ■ Foundation Scholarship? I feel very honored to be a scholarship

summer/fall 2020 | VCOM V iew M agazine 37