About VCOM- History, Mission & Objectives

he Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine is a four-year osteopathic medical school offering the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.).

Shortage of Rural Physicians

The decision to establish the College was made after the leaders of the Harvey W. Peters Research Foundation and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) studied the health care needs of Virginia. That study revealed that the Southside and Southwest geographical areas of Virginia had an extreme health care shortage, with 30 counties considered to have critical shortages (HPSA) designations and greater than 70 having medically underserved areas (MUAs). The three existing medical schools in Virginia, being located in the eastern half of the state, were producing a relatively small number of primary care physicians or physicians for Southwest Virginia. Moreover, few graduates chose primary care. It was evident from the study that the health care shortage in Virginia would continue to grow. In addition, a 2002 national study, reported initially in Health Affairs, estimated a shortage of 50,000 physicians by 2010 and shortage of more than 100,000 physicians by 2020. The need was evident, and plans to establish the first College moved forward. John Rocovich, J.D., LL.M. (Rector for VT at that time and President of the Harvey Peter’s Research Center) and Sue Ellen Rocovich, D.O., Ph.D. worked with Edward Via to establish the College in his name.

The Founding of the College

Ribbon Cutting VCOM is a non-profit, private 501 c-3 charitable organization initially funded by several foundations that were established by the late Marion Bradley Via to benefit Virginia Tech and Southwest Virginia. Marion Bradley's son, Edward Via, was the person instrumental in funding this initiative. John Rocovich J.D., LL.M. and Sue Ellen Rocovich, D.O., Ph.D. were the individuals instrumental in founding the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, laying all the groundwork to establish the College. At the time of initial development, VCOM’s vision was to provide healthcare for Southwest Virginia, Western North Carolina, and the Appalachian Region, and to promote biomedical research with Virginia Tech. In 2001, VCOM hired the founding President, James Wolfe, Ph.D. and the founding Executive Vice President and Dean, Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, D.O. This team of individuals developed the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in the Corporate Research Center of Virginia Tech including facility plans and building, academic program planning, accreditation approvals, and the hiring of the initial faculty and staff. The College opened its doors to the first students in fall of 2003 and graduated the first class in 2007.

VCOM's Founding Board of Directors included: William Anderson, D.O.; Neal Castagnoli, Jr, Ph.D.; John A. Cifala, D.O.; Roy E. Heaton, D.O.; Mark G. McNamee, Ph.D.; John G. Rocovich, Jr, J.D., LL.M., Chairman of the Board; Sue Ellen B. Rocovich, D.O., Ph.D.; Minnis Ridenhour, Ph.D.; James F. Wolfe, Ph.D. and the late, Eugene T. Zachary, D.O.

“The credit for the success of the founding of the first Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine belongs to more than the initial founders listed above. It also belongs to the first faculty and staff, the Board of Directors, the many supporters for their contributions, and most of all the first students (Class of 2007)."

Adding A Branch Campus

Spartanburg Campus Groundbreaiking photo In 2010, VCOM founded the Carolinas Campus of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Instrumental in founding the college was VCOM's Chairman of the Board John Rocovich, J.D., LL.M. and the Board of Directors; President James Wolfe, Ph.D.; Dean Dixie Tooke-Rawlins D.O.; Vice Dean for the Carolinas Campus, Tim Kowalski D.O.; then Spartanburg Regional Medical Center CEO, Ingo Angemieir; and Ron Januchowski, D.O. who now serves as the Associate Dean for Curriculum, Assessment and Education. Also contributing to this success were multiple community leaders including the mayor, local legislators, and community leaders. Licensure and accreditation approvals from the State and those granted by COCA began in 2010.

As a branch campus, the Carolinas Campus began as a fully accredited campus by COCA, which is the only accrediting agency for predoctoral osteopathic medical education, and is recognized by the United States Department of Education. COCA extended VCOM’s accreditation to the branch campus in 2010. VCOM is also appropriately licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and received initial licensure in 2010. The first class began in the fall of 2011.

Osteopathic Medicine

The College offers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Osteopathic physicians are licensed in every state to practice the full scope of medicine including examining patients, diagnosing illness, writing prescriptions, performing surgery, as well as providing musculoskeletal manipulation. Osteopathic physicians enter every field of medicine from family practice to neurosurgery. The majority of osteopathic physicians, however; practice primary care, with approximately one-fourth of the profession providing care in small communities and rural areas. More about Osteopathic Medicine