VCOM - Virginia 2017 Yearbook

outreach

VCOM faculty and students began providing care for patients in the Dominican Republic in 2005, and in the following year, the initiative grew to develop a year-round, sustainable clinic that is managed by VCOM faculty, students and local physicians. Through VCOM international outreach programs, students travel to the Dominican Republic and other countries with established VCOM-affiliated clinics several times each year, providing faculty-supervised care for those in need, gaining hands-on clinical experience, and improving their cultural awareness to better prepare them in their training as physicians. The Pediatric Care Center was inspired by Mr. de la Renta’s longtime passion for Altagracia, where he was a homeowner and dedicated his time to improving the surrounding community. He designed Tortuga Bay at Puntacana Resort & Club in 2005, the only hotel project that he ever worked on. Mr. de la Renta spent the final twenty years of his life in the Punta Cana region.

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