The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) Board of Governors approved a new institutional strategic plan for the 2020-25 academic years that focuses on the school’s mission and builds on previous strategic plans that have guided WVSOM’s growth.
The five-year plan encompasses five areas of focus: educational excellence, research, community outreach, infrastructure and reputation. Each focus area includes a set of specific goals and activities to promote their attainment. The strategic plan affirms that education is the institution’s primary focus, with the other four areas supporting the educational mission.
“A strategic plan is an essential part of any higher educational institution’s growth and will give us a path to reach the next stage in our continuing evolution as one of the nation’s most respected medical schools,” said Edward Bridges, Ph.D., WVSOM’s vice president for administration and external relations, who led the effort to develop the plan. “We’re certain that our plan will help us maintain the highest level of educational quality for our students, serve our students and our community to the best of our ability.”
WVSOM’s previous strategic plan, implemented in 2015, resulted in initiatives including infrastructure expansions and new buildings; expanded research facilities; increased community partnerships and growth in the school’s Center for Rural and Community Health; and national award recognitions to help raise awareness of the school’s reputation.
The drafting of the new strategic plan followed the direction set by an ad hoc strategic planning committee created in March 2019 that included representatives from administration, alumni, the WVSOM Board of Governors, faculty, staff, students and members of the Lewisburg community. The group created a strategic plan outline that was reviewed by each constituent group, and the strategic plan was revised based on input from the constituent groups prior to submission to the Board of Governors for approval.
Departments and key stakeholders within the institution are building on the institutional strategic plan’s core statements by developing departmental plans, strategies and appropriate accountability measures.
WVSOM strategic plan.