Eastern Virginia Medical School

What is the history of Eastern Virginia Medical School?

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) was founded in Norfolk in 1973 to expand medical education and address the region's physician needs. Its community-based origins still help explain its close relationships with Hampton Roads hospitals and its emphasis on clinical training.

A notable early milestone came in 1981, when an in vitro fertilization program associated with EVMS and Norfolk General Hospital helped bring about the first birth in the United States following IVF. Over subsequent decades, EVMS expanded beyond the M.D. degree into other health professions education and biomedical research.

The institution changed substantially on July 1, 2024, when EVMS joined Old Dominion University (ODU). The medical school continues to use the EVMS name, but applicants should read current policies in the context of the combined university rather than assume that descriptions of the former independent medical school still apply.

What are the faculties and departments at Eastern Virginia Medical School?

EVMS is a specialized center for medical and health professions education, not a general-purpose undergraduate college. Following the 2024 integration, Eastern Virginia Medical School is part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, alongside health professions and nursing education.

The medical school offers the Doctor of Medicine degree through departments and clinical disciplines such as internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery and obstetrics and gynecology. The broader health sciences organization includes graduate and professional study in fields such as physician assistant education, public health and biomedical sciences. Program names, degree requirements and administrative homes should be checked in the current ODU catalog because the integration changed the institution's academic structure.

For a first-time college applicant, the key distinction is that admission to the M.D. program generally follows undergraduate study. A student seeking a bachelor's degree should identify a specific ODU undergraduate program rather than apply to EVMS as though it were a conventional four-year college.

What is the location of Eastern Virginia Medical School?

EVMS is located in Norfolk, Virginia, within an urban medical district that includes major clinical facilities. That setting places medical and health professions students near hospital-based training sites, although an individual student's clinical assignments may also require travel elsewhere in the region.

Norfolk is part of Hampton Roads, a metropolitan area spanning several cities and waterways. The EVMS area is distinct from ODU's main campus, so students should check the location of their classes, clinical placements and required events before choosing where to live. Hampton Roads Transit serves Norfolk, including a light-rail stop near the medical district, but schedules and routes will not suit every clinical shift. Commuters should also account for parking arrangements and the region's bridge and tunnel traffic.

What is the mission and vision of Eastern Virginia Medical School?

EVMS's stated purpose centers on improving health through education, patient care, research and service. Its longstanding community orientation reflects the local effort that established the school to meet Hampton Roads health care needs.

Since the integration with ODU, students will also encounter the university's broader mission and the priorities of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences. These statements describe institutional aims, not measured outcomes for every program. Applicants comparing programs may find more useful evidence in the curriculum, clinical placement rules, research options and documented community-service opportunities.