Exciting developments are unfolding in the Vero Beach healthcare and real estate landscape. The Indian River County Hospital District has officially finalized the sale of a prime, five-acre property to the Virginia-based Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, widely known as VCOM. This monumental transaction marks a significant step toward expanding medical education and community health resources right here on the Treasure Coast.
Located at 1110 35th Lane, directly adjacent to the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital campus, the three-story building was purchased for $4.65 million following an initial offer made in early June. Locals will easily recognize this site as the former, long-standing headquarters for the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast. Situated just south of the hospital emergency department entrance, this strategic location is perfectly positioned for an integrated medical education facility. VCOM had been leasing the property from the hospital district since October 2024, but this official transition to bona fide Florida property owners cements their long-term commitment to our community. The sale proceeds will be strategically invested to bolster the hospital district’s reserve funds.
The newly acquired building is set to undergo extensive renovations to better serve the next generation of primary care physicians. According to VCOM leadership, plans are already completed and contractors are engaged to begin the transformation soon. The updated educational center will feature several key upgrades:
- A state-of-the-art medical simulation lab
- Dedicated, modern classroom spaces
- Comfortable on-call areas for medical students and training residents
VCOM already maintains a strong local footprint, currently training 40 medical students alongside professionals at the neighboring hospital. This new central education building will dramatically enhance the daily experience and training capabilities for these future doctors.
“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,” stated VCOM President Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins.
Now celebrating its 25th year with additional campuses in Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Alabama, VCOM specializes in training pediatricians, internists, family physicians, and obstetricians/gynecologists specifically to serve rural and underserved populations. This mission perfectly aligns with the growing needs of Indian River County. Dr. Tooke-Rawlins noted the pressing local shortage of primary care providers, emphasizing that this upgraded facility will support both current student programs and future residency initiatives as the Treasure Coast population continues to expand.
Looking ahead to the upcoming legislative session, VCOM plans to leverage its new status as a major local property owner. The college is actively working to secure a spot on the official list of Florida medical schools, a critical milestone that will open up pathways for official state accreditation and the vital allocation of medical residency slots. To spearhead this important effort in Tallahassee, the college has brought on former Florida Senate president and prominent lobbyist Ken Pruitt to advocate on behalf of the Vero Beach campus.
