VCOM View Vol 11 No 1

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

VCOM Receives $150,000 Grant from Truist Grant to fund pilot internship for students to practice in medically underserved areas

by Thimothy Corvin

T he Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) received grants totaling $150,000 from Truist Foundation and Truist Financial Corporation through its Truist Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Winston-Salem Foundation. The grant will create a pilot month-long internship program for fourth-year medical students and provide VCOM students additional training opportunities in medically underserved communities throughout Appalachia and the southeastern United States. In 2016, the National Center for Rural Health reported that a primary care physician practicing in a community with a local hospital created approximately 26.3 local jobs and nearly $1.4 million in labor income, including wages, salaries and benefits.

A primary goal of this pilot program is to train and graduate students who will return to practice in medically underserved areas. These future physicians will positively impact the communities’ health and economy where they work and serve. Tooke-Rawlins, president and provost of VCOM. “Research shows students who train in economically and medically underserved communities are most likely to stay in those communities to practice medicine. Therefore, improving access to and the quality of health care for those living in medically underserved areas is at the heart of our mission.” “We are very grateful to Truist for this wonderful grant,” said Dixie

and communities, these grants will support VCOM’s efforts as it continues to train medical students and provide health care for those families living in the region,” said David Camden, Virginia-West regional president for Truist, on behalf of Truist Foundation and Truist Charitable Fund. “We’re pleased to support VCOM’s efforts to address the physician workforce shortage and encourage its graduates to remain in the region to practice after graduation and the completion of their residencies.” ■ For more information about the grant, please contact Thimothy Corvin, Vice President for College Development and Alumni Relations, at 540-231-7189 or tcorvin@vcom.edu.

“As part of Truist’s commitment to inspire and build better lives

winter 2021 | VCOM V iew M agazine 27