Mission and Goals

1. Be a leader in providing education in the art and science of osteopathic medicine.

Priorities

• Provide education in osteopathic medicine, which prioritizes the value of a body, mind, and spirit.
• Provide osteopathic medical education focused on evidence-based medicine, patient centered care, the body’s innate ability to heal, the relationship of structure to function, and the clinical application of osteopathic manipulation.
• Prepare students to master the foundational osteopathic core competencies.
• Prepare students to pass all levels of COMLEX USA examinations successfully.
• Prepare students to match successfully into accredited residency programs.
• Provide students, faculty, and staff with excellent physical facilities and equipment, grounds, and resources to enhance clinical, instructional, and research functions at all campuses.
• Provide students, faculty, and staff with safe and state-of-the-art information technology equipment and services.
• Foster a culture of faculty and staff growth and institutional educational excellence through:
  • CME, faculty and staff development;
  • Continuous examination, review, and update of the curriculum;
  • Recognition for excellence in teaching;
  • Recognition for contributions by staff to the success of the institution;
  • Annual review and research on new developments and technology in medical education; and
  • Recognition for scholarly work among faculty related to teaching and learning.
• Provide a holistic approach to student education and physician development.
• Support the osteopathic medical education continuum, through the development and support of graduate medical education programs including:
  • Seek to match OMS 4 students to affiliated residency programs within our target region.
  • Provide support to existing graduate medical education programs.
  • Assist newly developing graduate medical education programs to meet the requirements for accreditation.
  • Assist graduate medical education programs in meeting the requirements of osteopathic recognition.

2. Recruit and graduate students who will address equity in healthcare.

Priorities

• Recruit students from, and educate students in, the socioeconomically depressed regions of the Southeast United States, including the southern Appalachia and Delta regions.
• Recruit students with a strong desire to care for medically underserved populations.
• Foster medical students with a desire and demonstrated commitment to an enhanced understanding of global healthcare and care for diverse populations.
• Foster primary care and healthcare for all medically underserved populations.
• Foster education addressing healthcare disparities through diversity, equity, and inclusion.

3. Generate, promote, and disseminate medical knowledge in disease prevention, chronic disease management, community health, osteopathically distinct care, and public health practices.

Priorities

• Improve the health of those living in the Appalachian states.
• Improve the health of those living in the Delta states.
• Improve the health of those living in states where VCOM campuses are located and in the surrounding states.
• Promote a better understanding of the importance of public health practices and compassionate care through international outreach.

4. Advance scientific knowledge, medical education, and patient outcomes through research.

Priorities

• Promote faculty opportunities for growth through multidisciplinary biomedical, clinical, preventive medicine, educational, and osteopathic principles and practice research and scholarly activity.
• Value faculty research and scholarly activity through opportunities for funding, collaboration, and promotion in rank.
• Support student and resident opportunities for participation in research and scholarly activity.
• Provide opportunities for research collaboration across campuses, with university partners, and with healthcare partners.

5. Serve as an advocate of osteopathic medicine, rural health, and affordable, accessible healthcare for all.

Priorities

• Promote primary care practices.
• Promote osteopathically distinct practices.
• Develop a diverse workforce of physicians who will serve and care for medically underserved populations.
• Provide medical outreach to rural communities and the uninsured.
• Promote global health through international outreach.
• Develop a portfolio of philanthropic grants and scholarships that will enhance VCOM graduates’ ability to provide care for rural and medically underserved populations.