News and Announcements

Health care organizations partner with Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine to strengthen physician workforce

Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has established a new partnership with three southeast Ohio health care organizations that will provide additional training opportunities for medical students and potentially help build the region’s physician workforce.

The collaboration with Physicians Group of Southeastern Ohio (PGSEO), Muskingum Valley Health Centers (MVHC) and OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center seeks to address the growing need for health care professionals in the region by giving aspiring physicians the opportunity to engage with local communities.

“By exposing future physicians to the region, we hope some students will stay after graduation and make these communities their home. Doing so, would increase the number of primary care physicians and go a long way toward closing gaps in care that some communities face,” said Bill Burke, D.O., dean of the Heritage College, Dublin.

The partnership provides clinical rotations, mentorship and community-based learning for Heritage College medical students.

“This collaboration represents a shared commitment to improving access to quality health care in our region,” said Sandra Schubert, M.D., associate vice president of clinical affairs at OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center in Cambridge. “By investing in medical education and community engagement, we’re building a healthier future for residents of Southeast Ohio.”

“MVHC along with our community partners OhioHealth and the Physician Group of Southeastern Ohio, are excited to host medical students as part of the new east central cohort with the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.  As a federally qualified health center [FQHC], MVHC is committed to providing comprehensive and accessible care to underserved populations,” said Danielle Roberts, M.D., pediatrician and chief medical officer at MVHC. “We hope to embed these medical students into our communities to get hands on clinical experience and gain insight into the unique challenges and rewards practicing in an FQHC can have, which could ultimately change both how and where these students decide to practice medicine in the future.”

The partnership began in July and is based in the Zanesville and Cambridge areas of Ohio, where a cohort of third- and fourth-year medical students from the Heritage College will gain hands-on experience while living in and contributing to the health care of local residents. The collaboration also aims to inspire medical students to consider long-term careers in rural and underserved areas.

“This collaboration is a tremendous opportunity for our community. At PGSEO, we are honored to serve as independent physicians and excited to welcome these students into our practices — not only helping shape their education but also giving them the chance to experience the heart of this region,” said Mandy Williams, D.O., family physician and geriatrician and medical director of Physicians Group of Southeastern Ohio. “Many will choose to plant roots here, strengthening access to care and enriching the future health of our families and neighbors. It is an honor to give back by mentoring these students and helping build the next generation of physicians for Southeast Ohio.”

The Heritage College is affiliated with many health care systems, hospitals and other provider types across Ohio in support of undergraduate medical education. Through the college’s Clinical Education Network, students are provided with opportunities to experience high-quality clinical learning in a variety of clinical settings. 

Published
October 9, 2025
Author
Staff reports