West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic medical school in West Virginia

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Type| Public medical school
Established| 1974; 49 years ago (1974)
Budget| $35.64 million[1]
President| James W. Nemitz[2]
Dean| Linda Boyd[3]

Academic staff

| 57[4]
Students| 778
Location|

Lewisburg

West Virginia

United States

37°48′21″N 80°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.

## History[edit]

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[edit]

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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[edit]

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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[edit]

This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (August 2022)

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* Kelli Ward, Arizona politician
* Tom Takubo, West Virginia politician

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Fiscal Year 2013 Revenues and Expenditures by Osteopathic Medical College" (PDF). AACOM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2015. 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. ^ a b c d "WVSOM at a Glance". Archived from the original on 2009-10-24. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
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. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
8. ^ a b "What is Osteopathic Medicine". www.aacom.org.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

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Osteopathic medical schools in the United States

Northeast|

* Lake Erie Pennsylvania
* New England
* New York Institute of Technology
* Philadelphia
* Rowan
* Touro NYC

South|

* Alabama
* Arkansas
* Campbell
* Edward Via
* Incarnate Word
* Lake Erie Florida
* Liberty
* Lincoln Memorial
* North Texas
* Nova Southeastern
* NYIT Jonesboro
* Oklahoma State
* Philadelphia Georgia
* Pikeville
* Sam Houston State
* West Virginia
* William Carey

Midwest|

* A.T. Still Kirksville
* Des Moines
* Kansas City
* Marian
* Michigan State
* Midwestern Chicago
* Ohio

West|

* A.T. Still Arizona
* Burrell
* California Health Sciences
* Idaho
* Midwestern Arizona
* Noorda
* Pacific Northwest
* Rocky Vista
* Touro California
* Touro Nevada
* WesternU California
* WesternU Oregon

* v
* t
* e

Medical education in the United States

Stages|

* Pre-medical
* Medical school
* Clerkship
* Sub-internship
* Graduate medical education
* Internship
* Residency
* Fellowship
* Board certification
* Licensure
* Continuing medical education

Pathways|

* Medicine (MD)
* Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
* International medical graduate (MBBS)

Degrees|

* Doctor of Medicine
* Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
* MD–PhD
* Comparison

Exams|

* MCAT
* USMLE
* Step: 1
* 2CK
* 2CS
* 3
* COMLEX
* Level: 1
* 2CE
* 2PE
* 3

Regulatory bodies|

* American Medical Association
* Association of American Medical Colleges
* American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
* National Resident Matching Program
* Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
* Liaison Committee on Medical Education
* Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
* Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
* American Osteopathic Association
* Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

Lists|

* Medical schools
* Specialty colleges

Reformers|

* Abraham Flexner
* Flexner Report
* William Osler
* William Stewart Halsted
* Andrew Taylor Still

Topics|

* Issues in higher education inside the U.S.
* Physician shortage inside the U.S.

* v
* t
* e

Colleges and universities in West Virginia

West Virginia University System|

* West Virginia University
* Potomac State College of West Virginia University
* West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Public Universities (non-WVU System)|

* Bluefield State University
* Concord University
* Fairmont State University
* Glenville State University
* Marshall University
* Shepherd University
* West Liberty University
* West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
* West Virginia State University

W.V. Community and Technical College System|

* Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
* BridgeValley Community and Technical College
* Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
* Mountwest Community and Technical College
* New River Community and Technical College
* Pierpont Community and Technical College
* Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
* West Virginia Northern Community College
* West Virginia University at Parkersburg

Private|

* American Public University System
* Appalachian Bible College
* Bethany College
* University of Charleston
* Davis & Elkins College
* Future Generations University
* Huntington Junior College
* Salem University
* West Virginia Junior College
* West Virginia Wesleyan College
* Wheeling University

Defunct|

* Alderson Broaddus University
* Mountain State University
* Ohio Valley University
* Storer College

Complete list

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

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