Today, April 15, leadership of the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine gathered with the community to celebrate the topping-off ceremony for its new $60-million building. With the ceremonial “final beam” − measuring 27 feet long, 24 inches tall, and weighing 1,500 pounds − covered in signatures, hoisted into place, and a celebratory helicopter flyover drawing eyes skyward, the long-anticipated vision of a medical school in Fayetteville took a major step forward.

“This medical school will raise the health of our population. We will no longer live in a ‘doctor desert.’ We will produce physicians, hopefully, many of them that come from our own community, to care for their community. Also, we know the economic impact that a medical school has…by the end of next year, there will be almost 100 people working as a part of the medical school, training almost 500 students who are learning to not only practice the scientific part of medicine, but also the art of medicine,” remarked Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Mike Nagowski during the ceremony. 

The building is 127,476 square feet and construction required 1,000 tons of steel and 3,700 cubic yards of concrete. The new medical school will have five floors with 200 rooms and a courtyard with outdoor seating. As of today, there are 461 days until the first student walks through the doors of the new medical school.

“Our mission at Methodist University has always been rooted in service, and we’ve been deeply involved in healthcare education for more than 25 years through programs like Physician Assistant Studies, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy and more,” said Dr. Stanley T. Wearden, president of Methodist University. “The School of Medicine is the next logical step − one that raises our visibility and elevates us to a new level as an institution.”

The new school of medicine has raised over $18 million, a substantial chunk of their overall goal of $30 million. 

“When I think about the mission of the medical school, there are six elements, and to me, three of them are outward facing, and three of them are result oriented. The three outward facing elements are that we are socially accountable, community engaged and equity focused...Our three result oriented elements are that our graduates will be evidence based, compassionate physician leaders who will end health disparities in our community and wherever they choose to practice. This building was designed to enable all six elements of our mission and allow us to express them through how we teach, how we embrace the community and how we ensure that health care will continuously improve because of our presence,” shared Dean of the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine Dr. Hershey Bell.

“This will be truly transformative. And I think we're beginning to see that transformation happen already,” added Wearden. 

For additional details about the new medical school, see this story written by GFBJ Editor Faith Hatton.

Stay up to date with the progress on the school of medicine at methodist.edu/medicine.