Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Research:part of vcom's mission is to advance scientific knowledge through medical research. vcom strives to foster a culture of faculty growth and institutional excellence through support for faculty research, innovation, and scholarly work that improves human health.medical research provides the foundation for discoveries that will benefit human and animal populations around the world. researchers analyze disease trends and risk factors, provide new treatment options, develop new medicines, create and improve medical devices, reduce health care costs and provide new directions for patient care. research offers new possibilities for improving outcomes for patients facing chronic illness or complex diagnoses.vcom researchers are advancing medical innovation. last year, vcom provided more than $1.2 million in seed funding to its faculty, and 25 seed grants were awarded. there were 110 peer-reviewed publications generated in 2024, more than 337 publications with vcom students named as contributing authors, and over 750 posters featuring students as co-authors were presented at local, regional, national, and international conferences. nearly 100 publications have been published on vcom's cureus channel. in 2024, the most recent figures available, vcom achieved a noteworthy 31.5% success rate with extramural applications. current research expenditures total more than $12.5 million. over the life of vcom's research program, beginning in 2003, the college's research expenditures totaled more than $128.5 million.vcom's successful program to encourage student research, the d.o. degree with research distinction program, began in 2020 and continues to grow rapidly. this program provides resources and training to encourage students to become clinician-researchers. students accepted into the program complete a designated curriculum and design and conduct a research project with a faculty mentor. upon completion, the do with research distinction program awards students who have completed significant research with an additional designation at graduation. such output includes submitting a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal. thus far, 148 students have received the distinction and 123 students are enrolled in the program.the annual vcom research retreat has become a cornerstone for the continuous growth of the vcom research environment. it provides an ideal opportunity for faculty to become better acquainted with the unique research capacities, resources and opportunities available across vcom's four-campus system. each vcom campus takes turns hosting the retreat, giving faculty a chance to visit other campuses and develop cross-campus relationships, stimulating collaborations. the goal of the retreat each year is to bring great minds together across vcom's geographic reach, inspire innovative research ventures and lay the groundwork to support and sustain cross-campus partnerships.

Outreach:a key part of vcom's purpose and mission is ensuring that its students are globally minded and community-focused. vcom's goal of serving the medically underserved draws students from all across the united states, and they are committed to becoming physicians who serve those most in need. this committment is most visible in vcom's ongoing outreach efforts, both in the appalachian and delta regions, as well as internationally. these programs address healthcare disparities tied to geography, socioeconomic status, and access to primary care. outreach activities emphasize preventive medicine, community engagement, and global research and culturally responsive care. vcom supports these efforts through ongoing investments in community partnerships, clinical outreach, service-learning opportunities, and infrastructure that enhance the reach and impact of student involvement. from the beginning of their medical education, students participate in health fairs, free clinics, screening events, prevention education, and mini-medical school sessions, all of which a