VCOM College Catalog

Course Descriptions:

Clinical Program

After Graduation: Assistance with Choosing your Medical Career

Voter Registration

Campus Fire and Safety Policies and Procedures:

Tuition and Fees [+]

Financial Aid [+]

Student Services [+]

Office of the Registrar [+]

National Boards

VCOM Policies and Procedures [+]

Resolution and Grievance Procedures

Code of Conduct: Honor Code and Professional and Ethical Behavior

Sexual Harassment

VCOM Faculty

Commitment to the Rural Community

There is a growing demand for health care providers in the United States and in Appalachia. Throughout the next decade, the evolving physician shortage and increasing urban demand will draw more physicians away from rural locations and into urban environments where patient numbers are greater and the economy is better. As the current physician population in Appalachia ages, a medical college training young physicians committed to the mission of rural and underserved care is a great resource for Virginia, North and South Carolina, and the Appalachian region.

The shortage of primary care physicians as well as all physicians are great throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) has been recognized for the past three years for being in the top 10 or 11 colleges nationwide in producing medical graduates who enter primary care. As a primary objective, VCOM seeks to recruit students from, train students in, and return students to the rural and medically underserved areas of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and the surrounding Appalachian region. Many of VCOM’s teaching hospitals are located in the medically underserved areas of Southwest and Southside Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. VCOM is now working with rural hospitals to develop loan repayment and incentive programs to return graduates to the area. Historically, few medical schools were founded to serve rural areas. The VCOM model provides a method of increased and sustained quality health care delivery to underserved Appalachia.

VCOM participates in career camps and programs with high schools within the region to provide students with an understanding of medicine and what it takes to become a physician. VCOM also provides a pipeline of medical information to premedical clubs and recruitment programs for gifted students from rural colleges and Appalachian region colleges and universities. Throughout the region, rural students in junior high and high schools are encouraged to pursue careers in health fields as well as improve academic performance to enhance their success in college. VCOM provides various programs to these schools through our College tours and our Mini-Med school programs.

Alli Bowling

Class 2015
VCOM-Carolinas Campus
Hometown: Johnson City, TN
Undergraduate: East Tennessee State University- BS- Biology (Major) Business (Minor)
Interests: Reading all kinds of novels, walking, running, or swimming, spending time with my family and friends. I am a huge movie addict especially Disney movies.
Other: I am married and I am a twin.

I grew up in a medical environment, as my father is a dentist and knew from a young age that I wanted to go into medicine. After shadowing several doctors in a variety of fields I came to realize that this was not just a childhood dream, but a passion that I hold. I have seen a tremendous need for doctors in our area and I want to help fill that gap and be a doctor my patients can trust. D.O.s view the body and disease as a whole which is how I want to practice. I realized that not only is there a severe need for physicians, but there is an even great need for osteopathic physicians.

Growing up in the Appalachian area I have observed many people who do not receive the help that they need. I want to be able to be able to create a change so that those who need health care will be able to obtain it.

When looking at schools I really loved the state of the art technology VCOM has and the mission focus. I could not find another school with as many mission opportunities and that worked with serving those most in need. When I interviewed at the Carolinas Campus it felt more like a family than just a school. The faculty and staff at VCOM have formed a great support for all the students and are always available for any questions and to help in any way possible.