NEWS
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
WVSOM Leads State ’ s Medical Schools
The report defines primary care as encompassing family medicine , internal medicine , internal medicine / pediatrics , OB-GYN , and pediatrics .
Additionally , WVSOM produces the highest number of physicians who practice in the Mountain State in all specialties , as well as the largest number who practice in rural areas of West Virginia . A total of 164 WVSOM alumni from graduating classes between 2012 and 2017 practiced in West Virginia , compared with 148 from the second-highest school and 84 from the third-highest school . A total of 74 physicians who graduated from WVSOM during those years practice in rural areas of the state , nearly double the number of physicians from the other two schools combined .
The figures appear in the West Virginia Health Sciences and Rural Health Report , published in December 2022 .
Linda Boyd , DO , WVSOM ’ s vice president of academic affairs and dean , said the report reflects WVSOM ’ s commitment to serving , first and foremost , West Virginia and the healthcare needs of its residents .
“ We ’ re proud that we produce the largest number of medical students in West Virginia going into primary care each year ,” Boyd said . “ Additionally , we are the medical school in West Virginia that retains more of our students to practice in West Virginia and in rural areas of the state . WVSOM truly serves West Virginia by populating the state with doctors who are interested in working in small communities .”
According to information in a report issued by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission ( WVHEPC ), the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine ( WVSOM ) had the lowest 2021-2022 tuition cost of the state ’ s three medical schools for both in-state and out-of-state students . The report also noted that in-state tuition at all West Virginia medical schools is among the most affordable in the nation .
Additionally , for the 2021-2022 academic year , WVSOM received more applications for its entering class than either of the state ’ s other medical schools . With about 200 students in each class , WVSOM is the largest medical school in West Virginia .
The commission ’ s report found that WVSOM produces more graduates who choose primary care residencies than West Virginia ’ s other two medical schools combined . In 2022 , a total of 114 new WVSOM graduates — 58 % of the class — entered primary care residencies . The report stated that the national rate for graduates entering primary care residencies was 50 %.
The report also found that WVSOM leads the state in the number of alumni who practice primary care in West Virginia , with 110 primary care physicians who graduated from the medical school between 2012 and 2017 , compared with 77 from the second-highest school and 41 from the third-highest school .
36 • www . wvsma . org