BUCKHANNON, West Virginia –  West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine continues to expand their partnership with three freshmen entering into the Go D.O. Early Scholars Program this academic year. 

The Go D.O. Early Scholars Program allows qualifying students to receive guaranteed acceptance into the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, upon successful completion of the undergraduate program requirements and interview as well as a waived MCAT. The program represents the first of its kind partnership between WVSOM and another institution of higher learning. 

The first cohort will graduate from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2025 and head to WVSOM.

“As this program continues to grow, we remain so proud of the students who have made the choice to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine,” Dr. James Moore, president of West Virginia Wesleyan College, said. “Our region needs primary care providers who understand how to treat the whole person, and I know these students will be among the best practitioners anywhere. We continue to be honored that West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine thought of Wesleyan to partner in this program.”

Drake O’Dell ‘28, of Summersville, West Virginia, Dane Heath ‘28, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, and Chloe Cox ‘28, of Craigsville, West Virginia, were introduced Friday.

Heath, a biochemistry major and mathematics minor, overcame a major medical event that inspired her medical school journey.

“When I was younger, I suffered a traumatic brain injury that took a huge toll on every aspect of my life, and doctors told me that I would never recover,” Heath said. “After several years, we discovered that the answer to my recovery lay in a holistic approach, and I knew I wanted to pursue medicine to help others facing what seem like doomed outcomes as well.”

Heath was drawn to the Go D.O. program in particular for a variety of reasons. 

“As I mentioned, the holistic approach to medicine is what helped me recover, so that’s mainly why I was drawn to the Go D.O. program as I knew I wanted to pursue osteopathic medicine,” Heath said. “WVWC is also part of the community that I’ve grown up in and the ability to stay here, close to family, as well as the lower in-state tuition offered by WVSOM, was too good to pass up; I feel very fortunate to have been given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

O’Dell, also a biochemistry major, is interested in the mental health field.

“I want to become a doctor so I can help fight the mental illness epidemic in my home state of West Virginia,” he said. “Many factors drew me to the Go DO program, WV Wesleyan and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine are both very prestigious schools that are close to where I grew up. They provide a top-notch education in a small school setting which I love, I am also terrified of the MCAT which I am now exempt from so long as I meet the GPA requirements.”

Cox, also a biochemistry major, said, “I have known from a young age that I wanted to be a doctor. There have been many illnesses in my family and I want to provide the support and be there for other families in need. My ideal goals for being a doctor include opening free clinics throughout the state of West Virginia, so health care can be more affordable and easier to access for families in need. 

“I chose to go the route of being a DO because I like how they focus not just on the specific illness but instead focus on the whole body. I gravitated towards the idea of holistic medicine and it truly intrigued me.”

Kaef Rehman ’25, of Daniels, West Virginia; Abigail Patterson ’25, of Charleston, West Virginia; Ravenna Navalgund ’26, of Irvin, Pennsylvania; Srikiran Nandigama ‘26, of Salt Point, New York; Tessa Sleeth ‘26, of Salem, West Virginia; Madelyn Armstrong ’27, of Bridgeport, West Virginia; Wyatt Burns ’27, of Weston, West Virginia; Jack Monks ’27, of Charleston, West Virginia;  Lanna Nguyen ‘27, of Bristow, Virginia; and Sophia Shoemaker ‘27, of Elkins, West Virginia, comprise the first three classes of Go D.O. Scholars. 

Applications are now being accepted for 2025 admission. The priority deadline is December 1.  In-state and out-of-state students who score at least a 1390 on the SAT or at least a 30 on the ACT and have at least a 3.75 grade point average qualify for the Go D.O. Early Scholars Program. Click here to find out more.