Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine 1310206 196414767 2008-03-07T00:13:41Z Hopping 1268318 {{Infobox_University |image_name = vcom_logo.jpg |image_size = 100px |name = Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine |established = [[2002]] |type = [[Private school|Private]] |dean = Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, D.O. |city = [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]] |state = [[Virginia]] |country = [[United States|USA]] |students = 600 |faculty = 16 DO, 18 MD, 13 PhD, 2 MD-PhD, 3 DVM-PhD, 1 MD-MPH (full & part-time on- campus faculty) |campus = [[Rural]] |website= [http://www.vcom.vt.edu www.vcom.vt.edu] }} The Edward Via '''Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine''', often referred to as simply '''VCOM''', is a private, non-profit [[Osteopathic medicine in the United States|osteopathic medical school]] located in [[Blacksburg, Virginia]]. The college is located in the Corporate Research Center of the [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]]. The school is one of 25 colleges of osteopathic medicine in the [[United States]], and one of four located in the [[Appalachian]] Region. On June 2nd, 2007, VCOM graduated its first class of 139 students.<ref name="First Class">Roanoke Times - First Class. [http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/wb/xp-119002]</ref> ==History and Mission== The school was founded in [[2002]]. The mission of the school is to help alleviate the critical shortage of physicians in [[Appalachia]]. The school places primary recruiting on students from a rural Appalachian background, particularly the rural sections of central and southwestern Virginia and North Carolina. While students are fully prepared to specialize in any division of medicine, the primary focus of the college is the training of primary care physicians to serve a rural population.<ref name="VCOM General Info">VCOM Mission Statement.[http://www.vcom.vt.edu/general/mission.html].</ref> ==Curriculum and Academics== The school uses a system of "blocks" as opposed to [[semesters]]. Each block concerns a specific organ system, incorporating anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, pathology, and [[OMM]] courses in relation to that system. The first 2 years consist of 12 blocks.<ref name="Curriculum">VCOM Curriculum. [http://www.vcom.vt.edu/resource/curriculum.html]</ref> The school also offers a course in [[addiction]] medicine<ref name="Addiction Medicine">Finessing the Fine Line Between Pain Management and Opioid Addiction. [http://appneurology.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=197003317]</ref>, and offers missionary medicine rotations. [[India]], East and West [[Africa]], the [[Dominican Republic]], and [[El Salvador]] are frequent areas where VCOM students learn. ==Admissions== The MCAT does not weigh as heavily in admissions decision making as does [[GPA]] and entrance interviews. Demonstration of a history of compassion, empathy, dedication, patient care, orientation to a rural or primary care medicine, and research is also considered in the admissions process.<ref name="Admissions">VCOM Admissions. [http://www.vcom.vt.edu/resource/admissions.html]</ref> ==References== {{reflist|2}} == External links == *[http://www.vcom.vt.edu Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine] *[http://www.vcomdo.com VCOM Student Portal] *[http://www.aacom.org/colleges/vcom.asp AACOM College Information] {{Osteopathic medical schools}} {{Virginia Tech}} [[Category:Universities and colleges in Virginia]] [[Category:Schools of medicine in the United States]] [[Category:Osteopathic medical schools]] [[Category:Blacksburg, Virginia]] [[Category:Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]]