West Virginia medical school enrolls record in-state students as physician shortage persists

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine has enrolled the largest number of West Virginia students in its history, marking a milestone that school leaders say could help address the state’s long-standing shortage of physicians, particularly in rural communities. The incoming Class of 2030 includes 210 first-year medical students, 79 of whom are West Virginia residents—the highest number of in-state students ever admitted to the Lewisburg-based institution. It follows several years of expanded recruitment efforts aimed specifically at encouraging more West Virginia students to pursue medical careers close to home. Seventy percent of West Virginia students who completed the program in 2025 went on to enroll in the school’s medical program. West Virginia has long struggled with physician shortages, particularly in rural counties where residents often travel long distances for medical care, according to the West Virginia Department of Health.