Robert C. Byrd Clinic formally aligns with medical school to form WVSOM Health
By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV
LEWISBURG, W.Va., – After hints of organizational change at Robert C. Byrd Clinic (RCBC) in Lewisburg over the last few weeks, Executive Director May Page Nemcik shared the news in an interview with RealWV on Tuesday morning.
The clinic is remaining under local leadership via the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM).
“It’s very exciting for the community,” says Nemcik. “Robert C. Byrd Clinic and WVSOM have formally aligned. On Wednesday, the clinic will be rebranded and become WVSOM Health.”
Founded in 1974, WVSOM is a public medical school which welcomes approximately 200 medical students annually onto their Lewisburg campus.
Robert C. Byrd Clinic was founded two ye ars later in 1976 as a 501c3 nonprofit rural health clinic.
According to Nemcik, RCBC has always formally been formally registered as WVSOM Clinic. After receiving congressional appropriations from the late Sen. Robert Byrd, the clinic adopted the “doing business as” name of RCBC in the late 1990s.
Why the change now?
“What we’re really doing is unifying the missions of both organizations,” Nemcik says. “We’ve always operated independetly and will continue to, but we will operate under the umbrella of the school. The clinic will become the clinical academic enterprise for WVSOM.”
Nemcik is excited about the change, seeing it lead to better results for patients.
“The transition strengthens the connection between patient care, academic education, research, and community engagement. It sets the stage for a real solid foundation for the clinic and the future growth of the organization,” she notes.
What changes can patients at the clinic expect?
“It will be a seamless transition for patients,” Nimcek says. “Our providers aren’t changing, schedules won’t change, the insurances we accept won’t change.”
“We strive to be a center of educational excellence,” she adds. “We have host sites for learners in radiology, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nursing students. We strive to be a good partner across the community.”
Asked if the change would result in any additional options for labor & delivery, after Greenbrier Valley Medical Center recently closed theirs earlier this year, Nimcek says, “Nothing is on the horizon at this time.”
Hilary Hamric, D.O., is WVSOM’s associate dean of clinical education and the chair of the clinic’s Board of Directors.
“Over time, the clinic has evolved alongside changes in health care, but its mission has remained the same: to serve as an exceptional site for patient care that naturally integrates teaching and learning. Those working within the clinic, along with its Board of Directors, remain committed to fostering academic growth, compassionate, high-quality care and a supportive environment that values employees and patients.”
“We employ over 100 physicians and staff members,” Nimcek notes. “We have a pretty impactful organization in terms of the economy. It’s important that we continue to find ways that this org can be viable and thrive. Hopefully in doing so we will create better outcomes and experiences for our patients.”
