The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) will host Celebrate Osteopathic Medicine (COM) Week beginning Sept. 29, featuring a series of events honoring the osteopathic profession and its impact on health care and communities.
The week will include a presentation by Deborah Schmidt, D.O., a WVSOM professor who specializes in osteopathic manipulative medicine. A Lewisburg native and a 1988 graduate of WVSOM, Schmidt will share details of her journey to osteopathic medicine and reflect on the role community has played throughout her career of more than 35 years.
As a longtime WVSOM faculty member, Schmidt has mentored many future physicians. She integrates osteopathic medical principles with acupuncture and a deep understanding of anatomy and physiology.
Her presentation is open to the public and will showcase her contributions to clinical practice, medical education and patient-centered care. It will take place at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 2, at the Clingman Center for Community Engagement in Lewisburg, following a 6 p.m. dinner.
Schmidt’s presentation also will be livestreamed at wvsom.webex.com. The webinar number is 2863 828 4514 and the password is VkECPFZ95m3.
On Sept. 8, Lewisburg Mayor Beverly White signed a proclamation declaring Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2025, to be Celebrate Osteopathic Medicine Week in the city. The proclamation encourages citizens and organizations to support the observance and raise awareness about the role of D.O.s in health care.
Jean Rettos, D.O., chair of WVSOM’s Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice, emphasized the long history and current upward trajectory of osteopathic medicine.
“The osteopathic profession has provided a distinct philosophy of health care for more than 150 years and is one of the fastest-growing segments of health care in the U.S.,” Rettos said. “We’re grateful that the Lewisburg community is a contributor to the success of WVSOM and its students.”
Today, more than 25% of U.S. medical students are enrolled at osteopathic medical schools. D.O.s practice in all specialties.
In addition to the public event, WVSOM will host three presentations for the school’s internal community with the theme of “Against the Odds: Utilizing Individual Challenges and Becoming the Best Osteopathic Physician Possible.” These sessions will feature physicians whose past personal challenges inform their patient care, including Rebecca Huston, D.O., deputy chief of staff at Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Chad Poage, D.O., a Lewisburg-based orthopedic surgeon and an alumnus of WVSOM’s Class of 2009; and Andrew Yuan, D.O., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist who practices in Fairfield, Conn.