Welcome to Geriatrics!

he Mission of the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is "to provide medical education and research that prepares globally minded, community-focused physicians and to improve the health of those most in need." Among the goals of the college include the education of students on their responsibilities to be professional, ethical, dutiful, compassionate, and knowledgeable and the emphasis of patient-centered care, collaborative approaches to care, and a sense of community responsibility throughout the curriculum to prepare the student for practicing in rural and underserved areas. Southwestern Virginia, particularly the Roanoke Valley and far Southwest Virginia, has a population that is older than the nation's average. Considering this demographic reality in light of the mission of the college, one can understand the prominence that Geriatric Medicine plays in the curriculum at VCOM.