NEWS
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Robert C. Byrd Clinic Became WVSOM Health on July 1
The Robert C. Byrd Clinic, located on the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine( WVSOM) campus, officially became WVSOM Health on July 1, 2026.
Discussions about a comprehensive rebranding initiative to more clearly align the clinic with WVSOM’ s academic mission and solidify the clinic’ s central role as the institution’ s primary clinical training site took place in January. The WVSOM Board of Governors approved the implementation plan to restructure the Robert C. Byrd Clinic at its March 27 meeting.
“ The transition of the Robert C. Byrd Clinic to WVSOM Health is a milestone in the histories of both institutions,” said WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, PhD.“ The restructuring and rebranding of the clinic will better align the missions of both organizations to enhance patient care and education of WVSOM medical students. I look forward to a new era of healthcare in the Greenbrier Valley.”
The transition reflects an important milestone in shared efforts to strengthen the clinic’ s long-term viability and to more fully integrate it into WVSOM’ s academic clinical enterprise. Since the clinic first opened in 1976, at the time named the West
Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Clinic and located elsewhere on WVSOM’ s campus, it has served as a faculty practice and teaching site for WVSOM professors and students.
The clinic has always identified a need for primary care services in Greenbrier County and has been committed to providing that care. It also remains a vital component of WVSOM’ s curriculum for students on clinical rotations and graduates in residencies.
WVSOM Health will be the name of the unified clinical enterprise of WVSOM. The ongoing implementation plan reflects work across four key pillars: transitioning the clinic to WVSOM Health through rebranding and identity alignment; modernizing clinical practice structure to support sustainability, equity, and faculty retention; strengthening educational integration, residency training, and community service partnerships; and establishing a stable, long-term financial framework that supports the clinic and WVSOM’ s academic mission.
Hilary Hamric, DO, WVSOM’ s associate dean of clinical education and the chair of the clinic’ s board of directors, said the clinic began as a place where WVSOM faculty could provide quality care to the community.
24 • www. wvsma. org