West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is a public medical school for osteopathic medicine located 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.

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
TypePublic medical school
Established1974
Budget$35.64 million[1]
PresidentJames W. Nemitz, Ph.D.[2]
DeanCraig Boisvert, D.O., FACOFP[3]
Academic staff
57[4]
Students778
Location
Lewisburg
,
West Virginia
,
United States

37.8058°N 80.4373°W / 37.8058; -80.4373
CampusRural
Websitewww.wvsom.edu

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

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. "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. "What is Osteopathic Medicine". www.aacom.org.
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