At the State ’ s Largest Medical School , Rural Primary Care is Key
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine ( WVSOM ), West Virginia ’ s largest medical school , is celebrating the 50 th anniversary of its founding this year . WVSOM graduates approximately 200 new physicians annually , many of whom specialize in rural primary care .
Based in Lewisburg , WV , WVSOM was founded in 1972 as the private Greenbrier College of Osteopathic Medicine and was brought into the state higher education system in 1976 . The school ’ s focus on osteopathic medicine means that in addition to the standard medical curriculum all physicians study , each student also completes training in osteopathic manipulative medicine , a system of hands-on techniques that help assess health , alleviate pain and restore motion . The osteopathic philosophy focuses on a “ whole person ” approach , treating each individual as more than just a collection of organ systems and body parts that may become injured or diseased .
through lectures , labs and teambased learning , as well as through experiences in the school ’ s Clinical Evaluation Center , in which they practice clinical encounters and learn communication skills through the use of standardized patients , humanpatient simulators , task trainers and virtual reality simulation . The third and fourth years of a student ’ s education take place at the more than 60 hospitals and clinics throughout West Virginia that make up WVSOM ’ s Statewide Campus system , where students gain experience through clinical rotations , as well as at participating facilities nationwide .
WVSOM partners with West Virginia colleges to provide pipeline programs that offer undergraduates the possibility of early acceptance to medical school . Once they begin their medical education , students have the option of joining specialized programs , such as WVSOM ’ s Rural Health Initiative , where they participate in unique experiences that provide opportunities to learn about local industries and how they affect patients ’ health and treatment in rural settings .
Research and scholarly activity are also important at WVSOM , both as a mode of teaching and a means of supporting medical progress . An additional priority is community outreach , which largely takes place through the school ’ s Center for Rural and Community Health , an arm of WVSOM that works with diverse communities and partners to promote the health and well-being of all West Virginians .
WVSOM is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association and by the Higher Learning Commission . WVSOM has been recognized as one of the nation ’ s top medical schools for 23 consecutive years by U . S . News & World Report and has been recognized eight times as a Great College to Work For by The Chronicle of Higher Education . The school is positioned for short-term and longterm growth : a campus expansion is in progress in the form of a new testing center , and the addition of two master ’ s degree programs — one in medical education and one in biomedical sciences — is planned .
Students spend the first two years of their medical education on the Lewisburg campus , gaining knowledge
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
( 800 ) 356-7836 wvsom . com 400 Lee Street North Lewisburg , WV 24901