BLACKSBURG - More than 150 students with the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine met inside Burruss Hall at Virginia Tech for graduate rehearsal on Thursday.
Many of these men and women went to medical school for different reasons.
"I wanted to do something to give back. I always loved the sciences, and I found myself falling into medicine,” said Todd Fridley.
"Both of my parents are doctors and they actually both teach here at VCOM, and they were both great role models for me,” said Fred Rawlins.
Fewer people are going to medical school as the nation faces a doctor shortage. Some students at VCOM believe it’s because medical school doesn’t come cheap.
"One of the big hurdles for going into medicine right now would be paying off student loans. A lot of us will be leaving medical school with medical school debt in excess of $230,000,” said Fridley.
Despite doctor shortages, VCOM workers say the college is growing. They now have three academic buildings, and the class size increases 30 students each year.
"A lot of students are from Appalachia - the Appalachian region, and the shortage is the worst in our area. They recognize the need for doctors,” Rawlins said.
It gives the students a big responsibility to help people in their communities. It’s some changes and challenges these students will continue to face, but for this weekend, they’ll enjoy the celebration.
Graduation for the VCOM students will be inside Burruss Auditorium at Virginia Tech at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement