Spring Break
Medical School expands to Athens
BRIAN MINK
Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: News
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In Monday's special called meeting, the regents adopted a plan by Pittsburgh-based consulting firm Tripp Umbach, which calls a partnership between MCG and the University a "key component" in avoiding a shortage of physicians in the state over the next several decades.
"It means that they are going to use it as a guiding document," said University Vice President for Public Affairs Tom Jackson.
"The need for both medical manpower and economic development requires that MCG continue to formalize its partnership with the University of Georgia to develop initial facilities on the Athens campus," reads the report, which regents saw for the first time Jan. 15.
The plan calls for a $10 million investment from the state in 2008 to pay for the startup costs for the Athens campus, including renovation of a facility to house courses and recruitment of a dean and other medical school faculty.
Gov. Sonny Perdue has recommended $7.2 million in funding to the University System of Georgia for medical college expansions, the release said.
Jackson said $2.8 million was already budgeted, so the $10 million will be met.
"The fact that it was in the governor's budget was very positive," Jackson said. The next step is legislative funding, he added.
The Athens campus should be accredited by 2009 or 2010 and open with a class of 40 students, the report recommends. By 2020, the plan suggests an increase in MCG's current 745 students to 1,200.
By 2012, classes in Athens would move from a facility on or adjacent to the University's main campus to the 58-acre former Navy Supply Corps School site on Prince Avenue, the report reads.
"Georgia cannot afford to miss the opportunity for the Navy property and facilities for future health sciences education," the report says.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 3
Winfield J. Abbe
posted 1/22/08 @ 5:28 PM EST
How many of the current graduates of MCG in Augusta remain to practice in Georgia? Silence on this question. There is no guarantee a single medical doctor produced at any proposed new campus will remain in Georgia. (Continued…)
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