The University of Georgia plans to launch an independent medical school amid a worsening shortage of medical professionals.
The school will be transitioning from a 14-year partnership with the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and expanding its own reach across the state. Almost two-thirds of Georgia’s 159 counties lack adequate dental, mental health, and primary care services, largely due to a lack of providers, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. The University of Georgia’s School of Medicine would be an addition to the state’s five existing medical schools.
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Development of the University of Georgia’s School of Medicine will be supported by research funding from the National Institutes of Health and more than $240 million raised from alumni and industry partners, the university said in a Tuesday news release.
The university did not respond to questions about when the medical school is set to open.
“The School of Medicine will significantly expand the pool of medical professionals in Georgia, attract more top-tier scientists and researchers to the state, and produce more physicians to serve underserved and rural Georgia communities,” said Jere Morehead, University of Georgia president, in the news release.
Medical students are expected to work with local healthcare providers, including rural hospitals and clinics, to extend the school’s impact throughout the state.
Internal demand for clinical education is high among University of Georgia undergraduates—the school is the ninth highest producer of medical school applicants in the U.S., according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Since 2010, the university has partnered with the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University to educate physicians in Athens, Georgia. Now, the University of Georgia has said it will begin transitioning medical students from the partnership to its new medical school as it seeks accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
In 2023, the Medical College of Georgia had nearly 1,000 students enrolled. The University of Georgia received more than $6.5 million in state funding to put toward its partnership with Augusta University, according to the school’s 2023 financial statement.
