West Virginia School of

Osteopathic Medicine
 
 
 
400 North Lee Street
 
Lewisburg, WV  24901
 
Toll Free: (800) 356-7836 or (888) 276-7836 Fax: 304-647-6384
 
E-mail: admissions@osteo.wvsom.edu Website: www.wvsom.edu
 
Description
 
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) has the feel of a small school with a national reputation. WVSOM’s excellence has earned the school national recognition for 11 consecutive years as a leader in primary care, family medicine and rural medicine in the highly regarded U.S.News & World Report’s annual “Best Graduate Schools” rankings. WVSOM provides a cutting-edge, 21st century, clinically integrated approach to medical education. Students learn the practice of patient-centered medicine and develop lifelong learning and leadership skills in a caring family atmosphere. Graduates are well-prepared to succeed in any field of medicine they choose to pursue.
 
Mission Statement
 
The mission of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is to educate students from diverse backgrounds as lifelong learners in osteopathic medicine and other com-plementary health-related programs; to advance scientific knowledge through academic, clinical and basic science research; and to promote patient-centered, evidence-based medicine. WVSOM is dedicated to serve, first and foremost, the state of West Virginia and the special health care needs of its residents, emphasizing primary care in rural areas. WVSOM prepares its osteo-pathic medical students to enter any specialty and to practice in any location.
 
Setting: Lewisburg, West Virginia; Rural
Date Founded: 1972; Public
 
Accreditation
 
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
 
Institutional Affiliation
 
Freestanding; falls under the governance of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.
 
2009-2010 Enrollment
 
Total medical school enrollment: 778 Total male: 409
 
Total female: 369 First-year enrollment: 215 First-year male: 124 First-year female: 91
 
Total enrollment affiliate institutions: N/A
 
Curricular Offerings
 
The WVSOM curriculum is carefully constructed to thoroughly prepare graduates for practice in any setting. However, the WVSOM educational program is tailored to meet the unique needs of patients in rural, medically underserved areas. Faculty members are particularly committed
 
to teaching in a student-friendly atmosphere. Specialty clinics and health screenings allow students to develop clinical skills and bedside manner. The common thread of osteopathic principles and holistic medicine ties together all elements of WVSOM’s curriculum. WVSOM offers one integrated curricular track for its osteopathic medical students.
 
Combined Degree Programs
Baccalaureate/DO: No
 
DO/MA: No
 
DO/MS: No

 
 
DO/MPH: No
 
DO/MBA: No
 
DO/JD: No
 
DO/PhD: No
 
Special Programs
 
•    Student organizations are active in many civic and health-related activities in the community.
 
•    International Medicine Programs: No
 
Preparatory Programs
 
Post baccalaureate program: In process of
 
developing
Summer program(s): No
 
Facilities
 
Located in historic Lewisburg, WVSOM’s 51.5-acre campus combines green spaces and tree-shaded areas with new and recently renovated buildings. WVSOM’s state-of-the-art Clinical Evaluation Center opened in August 2009. It includes 24 examination rooms, 15 patient simulator robots, a standardized patient area and an integrated, com-puterized digital recording system that records students’ clinical encounters. The Center for Rural Medicine and Technology, completed in 2006, is a cutting-edge instructional facility housing two modern 200-seat lecture halls, a commons area and office space.
 
Other WVSOM facilities constructed, renovated, or expanded in the last five years include: the Fredric W. Smith Science Building expansion that increased the Gross Anatomy Lab space in 2006; the Robert C. Byrd Clinic, an on-campus primary care clinic that provides varied clinical training opportunities, doubled in size in 2005; the new Admissions Center completed in 2005; and the Founders’ Activity Center renovation completed in 2009. The Founders’ Center is a recreation and fitness facility for students, faculty, staff and

their families. The Roland P. Sharp Alumni and	Send Letters of Recommendation by:
Conference Center, used by on-campus and
	Virtual Evals: Yes
off-campus groups for programs, meetings and
	Interfolio: Yes
events, outdoor area expansion completed in
	Paper: Yes
2009.
	Other: E-mail letters, if original follows by mail

 
care fields, health-related experiences and scholastic achievement.
 
First-Year Class Matriculants’
 
Self-Reported Race/Ethnicity:

 
Application Information
 
Primary application service: AACOMAS
 
Earliest filing date: Opening date of AACOMAS
 
Latest filing date:* 2-15-2011
 
*For best consideration, applicants should submit their AACOMAS application at least four weeks prior to this school’s latest filing date.
 
Academic year/orientation for first-year students start date: 8-1-2011 (early August)
 
International students (non-US citizens or temporary residents) eligible: Considered
 
Supplemental Application
 
Supplemental application required: Yes
 
Sent to: Screened Applicants
 
Supplemental Application Fee: $40 In-State;
 
$80 Out-of-State
Fee waiver available: No
 
Supplemental app. earliest filing date: 8-1-2010 Supplemental app. latest filing date: Rolling
 
Supplemental Application Requirements
 
Supplemental application and fee. Letters of recommendation from an osteopathic physi-cian and from a premedical advisor, a premedi-cal advisory committee or an approved basic science faculty member. WVSOM “Statement of Past or Pending Professional Disciplinary” form. Verification form for classification as a West Virginia resident student for WV residents only. WVSOM “Health and Technical Standards for Admission and Graduation” form.
 
MCAT
Oldest MCAT considered: 2008
 
Accept September 2010 MCAT Scores: Yes Accept January 2011 MCAT scores: Considered

 
Regular Acceptance Notice
 
Applicants will be requested to submit necessary
 
matriculation documents, including a deposit, according to the following AACOMAS traffic guideline schedule:
 
•    Those accepted prior to November 15 will have until December 14
 
•    Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 will have 30 days
 
•    Those accepted between January 15 and May 14 will have 14 days
 
•    Those accepted after May 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit
 
•    Earliest acceptance date: 9-8-2010
 
•    Latest acceptance date: Until class is filled
 
•     Maximum time for applicant to accept offer:
 
AACOMAS traffic guidelines
 
•     Requests for deferred entrance considered: Yes
 
Early Decision Program (EDP)
 
WVSOM does not have EDP for notifying candi-dates on early admissions.
 
COM interview format
 
A 30-minute, open file interview includes a clinician, a basic science professor and the Director of Admissions or Director of Student Recruitment.
 
First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors
 
The Committee on Admissions of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine recom-mends acceptance of applicants on the basis of motivation for osteopathic medicine, motivation to serve in rural communities in the primary


Percentages are based on self-reported data and therefore may not equal 100%.
 
American Indian or Alaska Native: 0% Asian/Pacific Islander: 13%
 
Black or African American: 1% Hispanic/Latino: 2%
 
White: 84%
 
First-Year Class Matriculants with:
 
Science Majors: 76% Non-Science Majors: 24% Baccalaureate degree: 96% Graduate degree(s): 8%

 
Premedical Coursework

Science
Course	Req.	Rec.	Lab	Sem. Hrs
Biology/Zoology	X		X	8
Biochemistry		X
Molecular
Biology		X
Genetics		X
Inorganic
Chemistry	X		X	8
Organic
Chemistry	X		X	8
Physics	X		X	8
Non-Science
Course	Req.	Rec.	Lab	Sem. Hrs
College
English	X			6
Behavioral
Sciences		X
Humanities		X