The Indian River County Hospital District has sold a three-story building on 5 acres to Virginia-based Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, or VCOM, to train primary care physicians adjacent to the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital campus.
On June 5, VCOM leadership offered $4.65 million for the property at 1110 35th Lane, which is best known as the former longtime headquarters of the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast. District trustees voted to accept the offer and move forward toward an August closing.
“VCOM currently has 40 medical students receiving education and training with Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital,” said VCOM President Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins. “With the purchase of this property, both VCOM and the hospital will be able to move forward with establishing a central medical education building to support VCOM medical students [and] … future residents within the hospital.”
The building, located just south of the hospital’s emergency department entrance, will house a state-of-the-art simulation lab plus classroom space and on-call areas for students and residents training next door.
“The plans have been completed for the remodeling of the building and contractors engaged, so the remodel should begin soon,” Tooke-Rawlins said.
Now in its 25th year, VCOM trains family physicians, pediatricians, internists and obstetrics/gynecologists to work in underserved and rural areas.
“There is a significant shortage of primary care physicians in the region and with the growth of the population, the need for more physicians continues to grow,” Tooke-Rawlins said. “Having the newly remodeled medical education building will support both the medical student programs and future residency programs. While there have been some delays, we are now moving forward with the plans to advance medical education in this area.”
VCOM, which has campuses in Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Alabama, has leased the property from the district since October 2024. The sale proceeds bolstered the hospital district’s reserve funds and will be invested.
In next year’s legislative session, VCOM will again attempt – now as a bona fide Florida property owner – to get on the official list of Florida medical schools, which opens doors to accreditation and allocation of residency slots. VCOM has hired former Florida Senate president-turned-lobbyist Ken Pruitt to advocate for the school in Tallahassee.
