WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — West Virginia State University and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine used the closing session of the WV Chamber Business Summit to frame a collaborative program as a practical response to the state’s need for more doctors and stronger higher‑education ties.
A formal pathway to medical school
On the final day of the 90th annual summit at The Greenbrier, WVSU President Dr. Ericke Cage and WVSOM President Dr. Jim Nemitz described the Pre‑Osteopathic Medicine Program — known as POMP — as a guaranteed early‑admission bridge that helps West Virginia students remain in the state while pursuing osteopathic medical training.
“This is an early admission guaranteed program. So, if a student is doing what they’re supposed to be doing, getting the grades they’re supposed to be, showing that they are competent to do medical education work, they can be accepted into our institution,”
Nemitz made the remark as he explained how WVSOM partners with several in‑state institutions to create a pipeline of future osteopathic physicians.
Results so far
Cage said the agreement, signed about four years ago, has already yielded tangible results. He reported that 11 WVSU students are either enrolled in POMP or have begun their medical education at WVSOM, evidence, he said, that combining institutional strengths can boost the production of physicians who will serve West Virginia communities.
| Data point | Value |
|---|---|
| Founding year, WVSU | 1891 |
| Years since POMP agreement | About 4 |
| WVSU students in POMP or at WVSOM | 11 |
| WV Chamber Business Summit session | 90th annual |
Why it matters locally
West Virginia has long faced shortages of physicians in rural and underserved areas. By establishing clear, early‑admission routes from a public, historically Black land‑grant university to an in‑state osteopathic medical school, leaders say they aim to increase the number of doctors who train and ultimately practice in the Mountain State.
- Retention: Students admitted through POMP can complete medical training without leaving West Virginia, increasing the chance they practice in the state afterward.
- Access: Early‑admission programs reduce uncertainty and financial stress for prospective medical students.
- Collaboration: The partnership leverages WVSU’s strengths in undergraduate preparation and WVSOM’s graduate medical training capacity.
WVSU’s institutional role
Founded in 1891 in Institute, Kanawha County, West Virginia State University is a public land‑grant institution with historic roots in agricultural education and a designation as a Historically Black College and University. Officials say the university is positioning itself to play a larger role in meeting the state’s workforce and leadership needs by expanding pathways into health professions.
Next steps and context
Leaders at the summit framed the POMP agreement as an example of how higher‑education institutions can align resources to address persistent challenges in health care and economic development. While officials did not lay out a detailed expansion plan during the session, the program’s early results and the forum at which it was highlighted indicate ongoing institutional interest and public visibility.
The WVSU‑WVSOM example follows a broader trend among in‑state colleges and universities of forming partnerships to streamline professional education pathways — an approach state policymakers and business leaders frequently cite as essential to retaining talent and supporting rural health systems.
As the fall semester approaches, students, families and advisers at WVSU will likely want clear information about POMP eligibility, academic expectations and timelines for admission to WVSOM. Institutional guidance on those points will determine how many additional undergraduates consider and pursue the pathway in coming years.
Coverage of the summit highlighted cooperation among higher‑education leaders as central to efforts aimed at strengthening West Virginia’s workforce, with medical education noted as a focal point of that work.
— Colton Ferris, WE NEWS
