James W. Nemitz, PhD, president of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, gave a presentation at the Parkersburg Country Club in Vienna on Wednesday for the school’s 50th anniversary. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

VIENNA — The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine celebrated its 50th anniversary Wednesday at the Parkersburg Country Club in Vienna.

“This has been a year long celebration for our 50th anniversary of our founding,” said James W. Nemitz, PhD, president of WVSOM. “The school has such a rich history, and we’ve been such a success story for West Virginia, that I thought it was important to do a year-long celebration.”

Nemitz became the seventh president of the school when he took office in July 2018. He was the vice president for administration and external relations for eight years, has been with the school for 36 years, and is a tenured professor of anatomy.

The school was established in Lewisburg in 1972, first as the private Greenbrier College of Osteopathic Medicine in the former Greenbrier Military School. The school then went public in 1976 and was renamed the School of Osteopathic Medicine. Today, the school has locations in Lewisburg, Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Bridgeport, Wheeling and Martinsburg.

“We have seven other campuses, that we divide the entire state up,” Nemitz said. “The entire state we see as our campus. To educate our third- and fourth-year students. We’re the largest med school in the state now.”

James W. Nemitz, PhD, president of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, talked with guest at the Parkersburg Country Club in Vienna on Wednesday for the school’s 50th anniversary. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Nemitz said the school started with 33 students and now has over 800. He said they accept 200 new students every year. Nemitz said there are 42 students, over 200 preceptors (teachers), and 68 alumni in the Parkersburg area.

Dr. Marla Haller is an alumnus who graduated from WVSOM in 1993 and is also the regional assistant dean of the Central West School of Osteopathic Medicine’s state-wide campus.

“We meet with the students once a month for their education day,” Haller said. “We are their support for their rotations, really just anything they need. We are their support and their cheerleader. Because I truly know, having been a medical student and graduated from WVSOM, what it’s like to go through the program.”

Haller said when she graduated there wasn’t a state-wide campus.

“This is really a great service for the students,” Haller said. “To be able to have the support of the team of a state-wide campus.”

Nemitz said the impact the schools has had on the area, and the state as a whole, has been tremendous. He said the economic impact in the area has been $3.7 million, with $130 million throughout the state of West Virginia.

“When you add the contribution of our alumna, and what they’re contributing to the health care throughout the state, you’re talking $1.5 billion,” Nemitz said. “We’re a leading producing of physicians for the state.”

During a brief presentation, Haller thanked the preceptors and staff for their hard work and dedication.

“I can not thank you enough. Your daily work is not always seen or recognized,” Haller said. “But we would not be successful with out you. We truly are a team. And to our students: thank you for coming out tonight. And thank you for being our perpetual inspiration.”

Nemitz also gave a brief presentation where he talked about the history, the impact, and the future of the school.

“I want to build a new research addition on my campus. I want to grow research,” Nemitz said. “Students need this to be competitive for certain residencies. So we’re responding.”

Nemitz closed by thanking Haller and her staff for their hard work. He also thanked those in his office and those in others for their work, and for all the students, staff, and alumni who came out to celebrate.

“Enjoy the rest of your evening, and thank you for being here,” Nemitz said.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com