A communication from Dr. Tooke-Rawlins:
Dear AACOM and AOA friends,
I am sorry but this is the first time I have been able to respond to the many mails. Please share this with the many osteopathic colleges and friends from the profession who have sent their support.
We are happy to share the news that we have lost NO VCOM students or faculty, however many have lost friends, and all have lost the feeling of safety we once had on this beautiful campus.
The VCOM students have assisted in the ERs, and they were thanked today in the national press conference. VCOM students have volunteered with the Red Cross, and supplied food to the families and friends of the victims. Our students who were EMTs responded to the scene.
>From noon on Tuesday throughout the night and until this evening, I along with Dr Willcox and Dr Kauffman, and many VCOM students provided care to the parents, spouses, and other family members. We were with the families at the Inn at Virginia Tech as the slow process of removing them from a crime scene and providing positive identification occurred providing counseling and other medical assistance as needed. The last family learned of positive identification at 3 pm today, and it was a long and painful night for these families. The mind-body-spirit training we receive as osteopathic physicians was so valuable. We watched the convocation with the parents and families, most of who were too distraught to attend, and wept with them. Additionally many of our faculty were the physicians caring for those who survived in the emergency rooms.
This is a literally heartbreaking time for our campus. Our campus will be closed through Sunday as we assist others. Keep VCOM and Virginia Tech in your prayers, as we try to help our faculty and student body to heal.
Dixie Tooke-Rawlins D.O.
Dean, VCOM
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