VERO BEACH -- The second-largest medical school in the country will open its sixth campus in Indian River County within two years.

Virginia-based Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine made the announcement Tuesday with Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital and the Indian River County Hospital District.

"Since VCOM's founding, its mission has been to train globally minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations," said Dr. Matt Cannon, a VCOM dean spearheading the project. "Because of that focus, 65%-70% of our alumni choose primary-care fields.

"Furthermore," he said, "we are particularly focused on providing physicians in the southeastern United States, including the Delta and Appalachian regions and Florida."

VCOM, a private medical school, grants a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree or D.O., which differs from an M.D.

M.D.s practice allopathic medicine -- the treatment of disease -- while osteopathic medicine emphasizes prevention of disease through wellness, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Based in Blacksburg, Virginia, VCOM has about 2,600 students and satellite campuses in Auburn, Alabama; Bluefield, Virginia; Monroe, Louisiana; and Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Next logical campus location

VCOM specializes in training primary-care physicians and identifies a need across much of Florida.

With a focus on the southeastern United States, VCOM currently has 254 students enrolled from Florida. Florida was the next logical location, according to Cannon, because of its 417 alumni practicing here.

"It is, and always has been, our commitment to return students to Florida for clinical training," said Cannon. "Florida is already one of the top five states for VCOM alumni to complete residencies, and we anticipate that will continue to be the case."

Students who participate in clinical training and residency are likely to practice where they complete their training, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Of Florida's 67 counties, 45 demonstrate a shortage of primary-care physicians, leaving the state 803 primary physicians short, according to VCOM. More than 4.7 million Floridians are without access to a primary-care physician, VCOM said.

On the Treasure Coast, only Indian River County has a sufficient number of primary-care physicians, according to VCOM. So does Brevard County, but neighboring Osceola and Okeechobee counties do not.

Under the terms of its agreement, VCOM must establish a third- and forth-year medical campus by October 2026 and expand it to first- and second-year students by 2027. Then VCOM has until October 2030 to establish a residency program.

VCOM already has 30-40 medical students training at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach and Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital in Port St. Lucie.

VCOM's $5 million investment

VCOM will lease the vacant Human Services building -- 1110 35th Lane -- from the hospital district for 20 years. It has the option to purchase the building after 10 years or it can extend the lease until 2064.

"Cleveland Clinic and the Hospital District have had a relationship with VCOM for a number of years," said Hospital District Chairwoman Marybeth Cunningham. "The hospital has had a few students from VCOM, so this would be a step up from that."

More: Music therapist Moreen Burkart adapts her music to the needs of each client

More: Sebastian increases storm water fees 40%, from $10 to $14 per month, to combat flooding

VCOM will invest $5 million in the building by October 2027, and must pay for all educational necessities, internal and external maintenance, utilities and property taxes.

"Our current focus is to remodel the building," said Cannon. "This will allow us to provide educational resources, such as a medical library, a medical simulation center and other academic resources."

A 'continual process'

"This is a continual process that is taking place. There are many approvals that must occur first, before a full-blown medical school is established," said Cannon. "These are not accomplished in a short timeline. Which is why VCOM has been very careful to build and seek approvals in a methodical approach.

"While I recognize that the community wishes to see doctors in the region, it is important to understand that we must establish the school and have students matriculate through," said Cannon. "The in-classroom portion is the easiest part of medical education to establish. But before we can do that, we need to lay the foundation for clinical education, by remodeling the building."