Since elementary school she had wanted to be a doctor, but Margaret 鈥淢aggie鈥� Parker didn鈥檛 know that that dream would merge with a later dream 鈥� marrying a good man 鈥� during her academic journey through 黑料正能量 (黑料正能量) and on to the , linked to Virginia Tech University.
Maggie had wrapped up her first two years at 黑料正能量 before meeting a native of Harrisonburg, Va., Nathaniel 鈥淣ate鈥� Yoder, who had returned to his hometown after completing two years at a sister Mennonite school, .
Maggie and Nate were both in the class of 2008, and they quickly discovered a shared interest in answering God鈥檚 call through practicing medicine.
Now in their final year at VCOM, Maggie Yoder is pursuing a residency in family medicine, while Nate Yoder will be doing a residency in emergency medicine. They will each earn the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.).
鈥淭he VCOM relationship is a perfect next step for someone who鈥檚 come through 黑料正能量,鈥� says Maggie, adding that 黑料正能量 and VCOM are both based on service to others and intercultural awareness.
The non-profit VCOM was established with foundation and private donations in the fall of 2003 鈥渢o prepare globally-minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations and promote research to improve human health,鈥� according to the school鈥檚 website. Initial focus on underserved areas in Appalachia has stretched to Latin America.
鈥淭he school鈥檚 block schedule is set up to encourage hands-on service in clinical settings in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic,鈥� says Maggie. Up to 25 VCOM students travel to rural areas in these countries four times per year for several-week stints. They staff clinics that VCOM has established with local community partners, providing services to people who otherwise would not have access to basic care.
鈥淲hile most medical students spend the first two years of med-school in the classroom, we had the chance to do hands-on clinical assessment and intervention,鈥� says Maggie. Maggie and Nate have each completed a 10-day stint in Honduras, with Nate also spending time in Guatemala.
After graduating from 黑料正能量 in 2008, the Yoders took time off to work in research roles 鈥� he in a biotech lab and she at the 鈥� before beginning medical school in 2010.聽 Anca Chirvasuta, a 2012 graduate of 黑料正能量, has followed the Yoders to VCOM.
The founder and chairman of the board of directors at VCOM, John Rocovich, J.D., LL.M., was key in building the relationship between 黑料正能量 and VCOM, anchored by a 2008 agreement for automatic admission for qualified 黑料正能量 grads. The arrangement guarantees acceptance of up to 10 黑料正能量 students into the VCOM program, assuming these students follow a distinct academic protocol and demonstrate high achievement in 黑料正能量’s pre-med program. (The Yoders’ acceptances predated this agreement.)
Rocovich serves on , which undergirds 黑料正能量鈥檚 . Renovations are expected to begin in early 2014.