The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) Foundation will host its second annual Day of Giving on March 4. The foundation is asking supporters to help WVSOM “march forward” by making a financial contribution to the school on that day.
During this 24-hour giving period, alumni, friends, faculty, staff and partners of WVSOM will unite to raise funds for institutional priorities. The event celebrates generosity, community and a shared commitment to advancing osteopathic medical education.
Last year’s inaugural Day of Giving raised $22,550 to ensure a successful future for WVSOM’s students and help sustain the school’s continued growth.
Shelden Mullens, the WVSOM Foundation’s development officer, said that by participating, donors will invest in the next generation of medical professionals and in ensuring quality health care for communities in West Virginia and nationwide.
“The Day of Giving is momentous in driving the mission of WVSOM forward because it centers on supporting our students and the future needs of the school,” Mullens said. “It’s a great opportunity for those interested in giving back to an institution that has given so much to the region it serves, and it provides an opportunity for our alumni and the campus community to contribute on an annual basis.”
The event will allow individuals to support WVSOM through unrestricted funds, which go toward areas of greatest need at the school, or by choosing from areas of interest including specific scholarships, student organizations or initiatives such as the Student Emergency Fund.
WVSOM is the leading provider of physicians for West Virginia. According to information published in the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Division of Health Sciences’ 2025 West Virginia Health Sciences and Rural Health Report, WVSOM produces the highest number of physicians who practice in the Mountain State in all specialties, as well as the largest number who practice in rural areas of West Virginia.
A total of 187 WVSOM graduates from classes between 2015 and 2020 practice in West Virginia, compared with 162 from the second-highest school and 69 from the third-highest school. A total of 86 physicians who graduated from WVSOM during those years practice in rural areas of the state, compared with 32 from the other two schools combined.
Donations can be made online, by calling Mullens at 304-647-6358 or by sending a payment to WVSOM Foundation, 400 Lee Street North, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Troy Holsworth, a student in WVSOM’s Class of 2028, has received funds through the Greenbrier Military School Alumni Association Scholarship and the Chancellor’s Scholarship. He said the scholarships have enhanced his medical education by allowing him to fully engage in learning, leadership and service opportunities.
“These funds have made it possible for me to pursue academic and professional experiences such as conferences, electives and community initiatives that might have been difficult or inaccessible without this support,” Holsworth said. “Knowing that donors believe in my journey has been deeply motivating. Experiencing this generosity firsthand has also shaped how I view giving back, making me more likely to support future students through donations of my own.”
The WVSOM Foundation is a charitable organization that supports WVSOM. For more than 50 years, the foundation has advanced a culture of philanthropic giving to help WVSOM, its students, faculty, staff and alumni who care for medically underserved communities in West Virginia and beyond.