VERO BEACH — A Virginia-based medical school is pushing forward with plans to establish a new campus in Vero Beach, but the project’s success depends on state approval to expand student training opportunities and residency programs at a local Cleveland Clinic hospital.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, known as VCOM, has secured a lease with the Indian River County Hospital District for a vacant building on the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital campus. The agreement, which takes effect Oct. 1, requires VCOM to launch training for third- and fourth-year medical students by 2026 and a full four-year program by 2028.
VCOM, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is the nation’s second-largest medical school and specializes in training doctors of osteopathic medicine, with a strong emphasis on primary care. About 65% to 70% of its graduates enter primary care fields, addressing a critical shortage in Florida, where nearly 5 million residents lack access to such physicians.
The initiative builds on an existing partnership. Since 2021, VCOM has operated a clinical campus in the area, with 30 to 40 students currently rotating through Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach and Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in nearby Port St. Lucie.
But expansion pivots on Florida lawmakers greenlighting more slots for student rotations and residencies at the Vero Beach facility. Without that boost, the campus could face delays, hospital district officials have said. The state currently ranks low in primary care access, with shortages in 45 of its 67 counties.
Under the lease terms, VCOM must also create a residency program for its graduates by 2030 and invest at least $5 million in building upgrades by 2027. The school aims to bolster the local health care workforce.
The partnership involves renovating the existing structure at 1110 35th Lane, owned by the hospital district, to house classrooms and labs. It could also open doors for broader medical education, including programs for nurses and other health professionals, along with research and conferences.
Florida already hosts a significant number of VCOM alumni in residencies, ranking among the top five states for such placements. Supporters say the Vero Beach campus could help retain more physicians in the Treasure Coast region, where demand for primary care continues to outpace supply.
VCOM operates five other campuses across the Southeast, focusing on rural and underserved areas. The Vero Beach site would mark its first in Florida, potentially enrolling dozens of students annually once fully operational.
State officials have not yet commented on the request for additional training slots. The hospital district board approved the lease last month.
