Robert M. Brown, M.D., was among the 40 inaugural class members of the Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC) School of Medicine in 2014. Today he is an emergency medicine physician at Carilion Clinic and a faculty member at his alma mater. And for his contributions to the community, including volunteering weekly at Roanoke’s Bradley Free Clinic, Roanoke’s City Council named him Citizen of the Year for 2025.  

“He is driven by a desire to heal, serve, and uplift the community he calls home,” the Council noted, adding that he​ “is known for asking a simple but powerful question during community crises: How can I help?”

VTC School of Medicine graduates such as Dr. Brown, who make careers serving the Roanoke area, represent the sort of virtuous circle that the founders had in mind. Keeping medical school graduates in the area isn’t easy or automatic, though. Many new doctors pursue residencies and fellowships elsewhere, and the lure of big cities or specialties offered at distant hospitals can be a powerful draw. 

Yet, Dr. Brown and three others from the class of 2014 ultimately chose to make their careers as Carilion Clinic physicians with academic appointments at the VTC School of Medicine. All told, 22 of 500 graduates of the school of medicine thus far have returned to teach at the medical school and practice at Carilion, and 95, or 19%, have remained in Virginia. A new, $20 million private endowment promises to boost that number through in-state scholarships.

Jordan Jackson, a standout student-athlete and nursing major at Radford University, became the inaugural recipient of the Carilion Clinic Endowed Athletics Scholarship. The scholarship, created in 2025, builds on our longstanding partnership with Radford University and reflects our shared commitment to education, service, and community impact. 

It will be awarded annually to a Radford University junior or senior student-athlete who plans to pursue a career in healthcare. 

"By investing in students, we're helping shape the future of heatlhcare while strengthening our relationship with Radford University," says Michelle Franklin, R.N., Chief Nursing Officer. Jackson, a senior, was chosen for her commitment to academic achievement and athletic excellence as well as her dedication to nursing and patient care. Between training and competing in Division I track, Jackson’s academic schedule has included working at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she gained hands-on experience in patient care. 

The Carilion Clinic Endowed Athletics Scholarship is among a range of investments we’ve made to expand pathways into healthcare careers and build the healthcare workforce to meet our region’s growing need for care in the future. 

The impact of opioids in Southwest Virginia and West Virginia has received widespread attention, including in the best-selling books Demon Copperhead and Dopesick, which was made into a drama miniseries in 2021.    

While awareness about addiction has grown, comprehensive addiction care remains uneven in the region due the shortage of specialists.   

To address the need, Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion Graduate Medical Education began an Addiction Medicine Fellowship in 2019 to train post-residency physicians in comprehensive addiction care across our urban and rural service areas. The program is one of 110 accredited Addiction Medicine fellowships in the United States and one of three in Virginia.

Current fellows Ananya Mishra, D.O., focuses on underserved populations, and Rachael Hawkins, M.D., is passionate about early intervention with adolescents.During the year-long program, fellows work and train in hospitals, clinics, and opioid treatment centers, while engaging in community outreach and educating other physicians across specialties. 

The interdisciplinary program emphasizes treating the whole patient, including addressing issues such as financial insecurity, housing instability, and stigma that prevents many from seeking care.

“The program has a lot of heart. People are dedicating their whole lives to treating substance use disorder," Dr. Hawkins says. "I've really enjoyed being a part of it." 

The American Medical Association named Carilion a Joy in Medicine organization in recognition of our meaningful progress addressing physician burnout, improving workflows, and fostering a culture of well-being that supports caregivers and strengthens patient care.