The University of Georgia broke ground on Friday. Construction has begun on a new medical education and research building that will significantly expand the teaching and research capabilities of the university's future medical school.
Preliminary plans for the building, located on UGA's Health Sciences Campus, include a medical simulation suite, standardized patient rooms, a clinical skills lab, a gross anatomy lab, and a medical library. The building will also include student support spaces, including conference rooms, study spaces, lounges, and faculty and staff offices dedicated to student support.
The total area of the proposed building would be approximately 92,000 square feet. Approximately 67,000 square feet of the building will be dedicated to medical education, and the remaining 25,000 square feet will be dedicated to biomedical research labs.
The new building will complement existing facilities and provide the UGA School of Medicine with the ability to expand from 60 to 120 students per class in the future.
“Today is an exciting and transformative moment for the University of Georgia,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “As a land-grant university and Georgia’s flagship research institution, the University of Georgia is uniquely positioned to serve the state’s health care needs through world-class medical education, research and community support.”
At the recommendation of Governor Brian Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly passed a revised fiscal year 2024 budget that includes $50 million in funding for a new facility at the University of Georgia School of Medicine.
The $50 million in state funding will be matched by private donations that will fund a $100 million medical education and research building.
The University System of Georgia Board of Governors approved the University of Georgia to establish a new independent medical school in Athens in February.
In March, Dr. Sherry Nass was named founding dean of the UGA School of Medicine. She previously served as an associate professor of internal medicine and psychiatry at the Augusta University-University of Georgia Medical Alliance. In 2016, she was appointed campus director of Medical Partnership, which has been educating physicians in Athens since 2010.
“The fact is, Georgia needs more doctors, and we need them now,” Nuss said. “The new UGA School of Medicine will increase the number of medical students in the state and train more clinicians to address Georgia’s biggest health care challenges.”
The creation of the UGA School of Medicine marks the natural evolution of the nation's longest-running medical partnership. Similar programs established around the same time have already transitioned into independent medical schools.
UGA is pursuing accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and will continue to work closely with the Medical College of Georgia to ensure a smooth transition for current medical students.
The development of a new public medical school at UGA is expected to help address a significant shortage of medical professionals. Georgia's population is approximately over 11 million and growing, putting a strain on the state's existing health care infrastructure.
Georgia, currently the nation's eighth largest state, is expected to grow even more in the coming years, and nearly one-third of the state's physicians are nearing retirement.
“Georgia is growing,” said Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia. “While it may only be number eight today, within just a few years Georgia could be the fifth largest state. And that means we will need even more health care.” , meaning people will receive health care not just here, but across the state.”
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Georgia currently ranks 40th among U.S. states in the number of active patient care physicians per capita, but ranks 41st in the number of primary care physicians. It ranks 44th in terms of number of primary care physicians. Number of general surgeons per population. The shortage of health care providers is particularly acute in rural and underserved areas, where access is more limited.
UGA faculty are already committed to human health research, and the creation of the School of Medicine will strengthen that effort.
“As our flagship institution, the University of Georgia has an important mission to educate and prepare the next generation of leaders,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “To that end, one of our top priorities is to build a strong medical talent pipeline. This UGA facility will be an integral part of those efforts.”
In addition to funding from the state government, strong private support will strengthen efforts to create a medical school at UGA. Donors have shown strong support for UGA initiatives in recent years. In fiscal year 2023, UGA raised more than $240 million in gifts and pledges from alumni, friends, foundations and industry partners. Her three-year rolling fundraising average for the university now stands at a record $235 million annually, and he has exceeded $200 million in annual giving for the past six consecutive years.