International and Appalachian Outreach

Message from the Dean

Message and Goals from the Vice President

Global Health Initiatives

Global Seminar & Forum

Medical Mission/Outreach:

• Overview of Medical Mission/Outreach
• Appalachia
  • Mini-Med School Program
  • Free Clinics
  • Anatomy Summer Enrichment Experience
  • Remote Area Medical Mission (RAM)
  • Outreach Field trip to VCOM
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Honduras

Disaster Response:

• Bioterrorism
• Indian Tsunami Relief
• Hurricane Katrina
• Virginia Tech Tragedy
• Missouri Flood Relief
• Virginia Tornado cleanup
• Honduran Flood Relief
• Haiti Disaster Response
• June 2010 Honduras Flood Relief Trip
• July 2010 Honduras Dengue Response Trip

Past Features of the Month:

• VCOM Students Give Thanks by Giving Back
• VCOM's International Clinics

Message from the Vice President

nternational and Appalachian Outreach provides a comprehensive program to meet health care needs of the underserved globally, in Appalachia, and across the U.S. for disaster relief. As a result, VCOM students gain valuable medical training working with VCOM faculty members, preceptors and other medical professionals in the U.S. and abroad. Students develop cultural sensitivity and skills to address major health challenges that span borders and continents. Because of our comprehensive program, VCOM is quickly becoming a leader in Global Health.

VCOM’s International Health and Outreach program includes Appalachian outreach in 26 high schools, early clinical experiences in the region each Friday, and participation in Free clinics. There are three full-time international sites where students complete one-week medical mission trips and one-month international student rotations. Additionally, students have an opportunity to participate in an interactive video conference seminar with medical students in other countries.

Join with us in traveling the globe to develop leadership skills in improving the health of underserved populations and preserving our environment, all within the philosophy of Osteopathic Medicine.

H. Dean Sutphin, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President for International Outreach

The Clinical Goals for the Medical Mission Program: Provide sustainable health care improvements in internationally developing communities and in Appalachia through the provision of high quality medical relief efforts Provide quality medical care to victims of disaster

The Educational Goals for the Medical Mission Program: Instill in future physicians the core values of compassion and altruism Prepare future physicians to implement measurable and sustainable community health improvements Train future physicians to be stewards of the environment Prepare future physicians to practice in a multicultural society Prepare future physicians to partner with patients to improve health in the mind, body, and spirit Prepare future physicians to respond to disasters

Learning to address health care needs in the face of poverty, adverse environmental conditions, and political complexity prepare future physicians to address the community health needs of rural and underserved areas where they will eventually practice.

Next, we'd like to tell you more about how we are involved in international community and government partnerships and global health initiatives .