West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Last updated
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine logo.gif
Type Public medical school
Established1974;49 years ago (1974)
Budget$35.64 million [1]
President James W. Nemitz [2]
Dean Linda Boyd [3]
Academic staff
57 [4]
Students778
Location, ,
United States

37°48′21″N80°26′14″W / 37.8058°N 80.4373°W / 37.8058; -80.4373
Campus Rural
Website www.wvsom.edu

The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is a public medical school in Lewisburg, West Virginia. Founded in 1974, WVSOM is one of three medical schools in West Virginia and the sole institution that grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. WVSOM currently has 778 students, [5] and focuses on primary care and rural medicine.

Contents

History

Purchasing a facility once used as Greenbrier Military School (1812–1972), the Greenbrier College of Osteopathic Medicine began as a private school with a class of 36 students in 1974. Two years later, in 1976, the board of governors of the school donated it to the state, which accepted establishing it as a state-funded public institution now named the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. In 1978, WVSOM graduated its first class of 33 students. [5] Extensive renovations started in 1992 and continue into the present time, with construction just completed on a new 19,000-square-foot (1,800 m2) building that includes exam rooms and laboratory space. WVSOM has spent more than $38 million on construction and renovation projects while increasing from one building in 1974 to 12 campus facilities across its more than 50-acre (200,000 m2) campus, all of this was accomplished while maintaining a debt free financial status. [6] [7]

On August 15, 2016, State Senator Craig Blair proposed privatizing the institution. Blair stated that the institution was diverting money from other functions and could thrive as a private institution freed from state bureaucratic regulations.

Academics

WVSOM was founded on the principles of osteopathic medicine, a branch of medicine founded by frontiersman Andrew Taylor Still in the mid-to-late 19th century. The basic premise of osteopathic medicine is that a physician's primary role is to facilitate the body's inherent ability to heal itself. While originally designed as an improvement on the traditional medicine of 19th century America, osteopathic medicine became a reformation within the U.S. healthcare system while remaining distinct from other forms of medicine. [8]

In addition to a medical education, students at WVSOM also learn holistic techniques and are trained in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), manual-based therapies used to relieve pain, restore range of motion and foster the body's own ability to heal itself. [8] Medical school at WVSOM is a four-year program, with two years of training located at the Lewisburg-based campus and the final two years taking place off-campus during clinical rotations. [5]

Demographics

WVSOM's current enrollment stands at 778 students, with out-of-state students composing the majority (557 out of state :221 in state). The median age is 27, and there are students from 46 states currently attending WVSOM. The male female ratio is roughly equal with 384 females and 408 males. WVSOM maintains a diverse ethnic community on campus, with 161 minority students. AACOMAS reports that 5,298 students applied for admission into WVSOM's most recent class (Class of 2020). [5]

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midwestern University</span> American graduate university

Midwestern University (MWU) is a private medical and professional school with campuses in Downers Grove, Illinois and Glendale, Arizona. As of the 2020–21 academic year, a total of 2,987 students were enrolled at the Downers Grove campus and 3,902 were enrolled at the Glendale campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine</span> Osteopathic medical school in Virginia, USA

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is a private medical school on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia (VCOM-Virginia), with branch campuses in Spartanburg, South Carolina (VCOM-Carolinas), Auburn, Alabama (VCOM-Auburn) and Monroe, Louisiana (VCOM-Louisiana). VCOM also recently added Bluefield University to its list of campuses. Founded in 2002, VCOM graduated its first class of 139 students in June 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Pikeville</span> Private university in Pikeville, KY, US

The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) is a private university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and located in Pikeville, Kentucky. It was founded in 1889 by the Presbyterian Church and is located on a 25-acre (10 ha) campus on a hillside overlooking downtown Pikeville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Carey University</span> Private Christian liberal arts college in Mississippi

William Carey University is a private Christian university in Mississippi, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Mississippi Baptist Convention. The main campus is in Hattiesburg, and a second campus is in the Tradition community near Gulfport and Biloxi.

The Greenbrier Military School was a boys-only, private, military, boarding high school and Junior College, located in Lewisburg, West Virginia. The school was founded in 1812 and closed in 1972, when the campus was converted into the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. The sister school was Greenbrier College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston Area Medical Center</span> Hospital in West Virginia, United States

Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) is the name of a complex of hospitals in Charleston, West Virginia, formed via a merger of previously independent facilities. It is the state's largest hospital.

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is a non-profit organization that supports the 40 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) in the United States. These colleges are accredited to deliver instruction at 64 teaching locations in 35 states. In the current academic year, these colleges are educating more than 35,000 future physicians—25 percent of all U.S. medical students. Seven of the colleges are public and 33 are private institutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine</span>

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is a private medical school and academic health center in Erie, Pennsylvania. LECOM has a Branch Campus in Bradenton, Florida. LECOM has Additional Locations in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Elmira, New York. Founded in 1992, LECOM confers medical (D.O.), dental (DMD), podiatry (DPM), pharmacy (PharmD), as well as master's and academic doctoral degrees in the health sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine</span> Osteopathic medical school of Touro University

The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) is a private medical school with a main campus in the neighborhood of Central Harlem in New York City and an additional campus in Middletown, New York. It is a division of Touro College and University System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine</span> American medical school

Rocky Vista University (RVU) is a private, for-profit medical school with campus locations in Parker, Colorado and Ivins, Utah. The school opened in 2006 as the only modern for-profit medical school in the United States although other for-profit schools have since opened. RVU's College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and admitted its inaugural class of medical students at the Parker, Colorado campus in August 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences</span> American medical school in Yakima, Washington, USA

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) is a private medical school in Yakima, Washington. Founded in 2005, the university's inaugural program was the first new medical school to open in the Pacific Northwest in sixty years. PNWU grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree and graduated its first class of physicians in May 2012. It is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents</span>

The Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP) was established in 1972 as an official council of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) to serve as the official national representative voting voice of osteopathic medical students. There are currently 40 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine that offer the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, with 64 locations in 35 states nationwide. The council includes a student representatives from each of these schools. COSGP serves as a national voting body within AACOM and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and represents the collective voice of osteopathic medical students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine</span> Osteopathic medical school of Michigan State University

The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) is one of the two public medical schools of Michigan State University, a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. The college grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, as well as a DO-PhD combined degree for students interested in training as physician-scientists. MSUCOM operates two satellite campuses in Clinton Township and Detroit. The college is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and by the Higher Learning Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine</span> Medical school of the University of Pikeville

The University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (UP-KYCOM) is the medical school of University of Pikeville, a private university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and located in Pikeville, Kentucky. UP-KYCOM was established in 1997, grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. It is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific</span> Medical school in Pomona, California, U.S.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) is a private, non-profit medical school for osteopathic medicine located in downtown Pomona, in the U.S. state of California. The college opened in 1977 as the only osteopathic medical school west of the Rocky Mountains. COMP was the founding program of Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU), which now has 8 colleges in addition to COMP, each offering professional degrees in various fields of healthcare. COMP has a single 4-year program, conferring the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Graduates are eligible to practice medicine in all 50 states and more than 85 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine</span>

The Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine is the medical school of Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was the first osteopathic medical school to open at a Roman Catholic university.

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University is a private, for-profit medical school on the New Mexico State University campus in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and graduated its first class in May 2020.

The University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) is the medical school of the University of the Incarnate Word, a private Catholic university with its main campus in San Antonio and Alamo Heights, Texas. It was opened in 2015 and holds provisional accreditation with the American Osteopathic Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine</span> Osteopathic medical school in Idaho

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) is a private, for-profit osteopathic medical school. Founded in 2016, ICOM is located at the Meridian campus of Idaho State University (ISU). At ICOM, students can earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.

California Health Sciences University (CHSU) is a private, for-profit university located in Clovis, in the U.S. state of California. Founded in 2012, the school operates two academic programs, which offer doctoral degrees in pharmacy and osteopathic medicine. Graduates of the College of Osteopathic Medicine will receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is fully pre-accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

References

  1. "Fiscal Year 2013 Revenues and Expenditures by Osteopathic Medical College" (PDF). AACOM . Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  2. "Nemitz named next WVSOM president - West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine". www.wvsom.edu.
  3. "WVSOM Senior Leadership - West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine". www.wvsom.edu.
  4. "West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "WVSOM at a Glance".
  6. Christian Giggenbach (2008-01-03). "New WVSOM building on tap for '09". The Register-Herald. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  7. The Associated Press (2008-01-04). "Osteopathic school to build $9.3 million facility". Charleston Daily Mail. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  8. 1 2 "What is Osteopathic Medicine". www.aacom.org.