How does having an osteopathic medical school in the community impact the health care needs of local citizens? There are numerous answers when considering the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM).
Addressing the health care needs of residents of the Greenbrier Valley and the state is a key part of the school’s mission statement: “WVSOM is dedicated to serving, first and foremost, the state of West Virginia and the health care needs of its residents, emphasizing primary care in rural areas.”
Chief Communications Officer Don Smith said WVSOM considers the needs of the surrounding communities.
“Statistics document that we live in a rural state with a high level of poverty and some of the worst health outcomes in the country. Those circumstances create a tremendous need for rural health care. Many residents might not have the time or resources to travel for medical treatment. Physicians must be available in rural areas,” Smith said.
Recognizing that need, Smith said, WVSOM focuses on producing osteopathic physicians who will practice in rural areas of West Virginia.
According to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Division of Health Sciences annual report, 159 WVSOM graduates from classes between 2014 and 2019 now practice in West Virginia. A total of 72 physicians who graduated from WVSOM during those years practice in rural areas of the state. WVSOM also produces the highest number of physicians who practice in the Mountain State in all specialties.
According to WVSOM’s most recent Annual Report, the school has 83 graduates practicing in Greenbrier County and 11 current students from the county.
“Having local physicians can mean greater access to health care, especially with older populations or when travel and transportation costs are an issue,” Smith said.
Linda Boyd, D.O., WVSOM’s chief academic officer, said the school strives to educate students who will become health care workforce members in rural areas.
“We are proud of our success in recruiting students from rural areas and encouraging students to practice in them,” Boyd said. “Our clinical faculty in rural practice and hospital partners in rural areas are rock stars, demonstrating that rural medicine can be high-quality medicine delivered with a heart for the community.”
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., WVSOM’s president, said school officials know that if they can recruit in-state students and help them get residencies in hospitals in West Virginia, there is a better chance of them staying in the state to practice.
WVSOM also impacts the local community by recruiting local students. For the third consecutive year, WVSOM is giving high school-aged students a glimpse of medical school with its Clinical Anatomy Summer Experience (C.A.S.E.) camp, which will take place June 23-27 on the school’s Lewisburg campus.
The camp, designed to introduce young science enthusiasts to anatomical structures and their clinical importance, allows students to receive hands-on clinical anatomy education in WVSOM’s gross anatomy lab, participate in interactive activities in the classroom and offer them a snapshot of health care careers.
Karen Wines, a member of WVSOM’s biomedical sciences faculty who leads the camp with the assistance of medical student interns, said the camp is an outstanding opportunity for high school students interested in entering the health care field.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to get a first look at medical education and talk with current students who are on the path to becoming the next generation of physicians,” Wines said.
Another area of local impact includes the work of WVSOM’s Center for Rural and Community Health (CRCH), which earned national recognition twice in 2024 for its efforts in public health. The CRHC was honored for developing mobile testing units, providing no-cost medical transportation during COVID-19, and working in community-engaged research.
“WVSOM and its CRCH are building a reputation for innovative community engagement strategies to combat the challenges in public health West Virginians and their families face today,” said Brian Hendricks, Ph.D., executive director of the CRCH.
The school is also proud of its partnership with the Robert C. Byrd Clinic (RCBC), which promises “Quality Healthcare…Close to Home.” RCBC is located on the campus of WVSOM and is a comprehensive, not-for-profit rural health clinic delivering primary care to those living in Lewisburg and the greater Greenbrier Valley community. Areas of care offered include family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology, osteopathic manipulative medicine, physiatry as well as Electromyography services, proctology, behavioral health, acute care, diabetic education, medical acupuncture, social services, nutrition services, radiology and ultrasound.
Smith said the school’s economic impact is significant. WVSOM, with more than 300 employees, provides jobs with benefits and health insurance. It is one of the largest employers in Greenbrier County.
