First cohort of students gets advance look at new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine
By Staff Report, posted Apr 20, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com
The first group of accepted students was recently given the opportunity to meet faculty, staff and get their first look at the new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine (SOM).
After a welcome from the founding dean of the school, Hershey Bell, M.D., the students and their families visiting for the inaugural Accepted Students Day were presented a curriculum overview, multiple tabling sessions, lunch, a vendor fair, tours of the simulation labs at the General Medical Education Building and a tour of the new, state-of-the-art, $65-million School of Medicine.
“Welcoming the inaugural class to the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine is both an honor and a historic milestone,” said Jennifer O’Dell, Ed.D., director of Student Experience at the SOM, in a press release. “This class is not simply the first group of students to enroll – they are the foundation of our school’s culture, traditions and legacy. They will help shape what it means to be a student here and leave a lasting imprint on the institution’s future.”
This first cohort of students will begin classes at the SOM in July.
“The opportunity to turn vision into a lived reality, building something meaningful alongside students – nurturing their ideas, energy, and hopes, and co-creating a vibrant, fully engaged learning experience from Day 1 is very exciting,” said Yen-Ping Kuo, Ph.D., senior associate dean for Student Experience & associate dean for Curriculum Implementation, in a press release. “The interactions helped us show students and their families that we are deeply committed to their success.”
The SOM was announced in February of 2023, had its groundbreaking in September of 2024, was officially accredited – and received the greenlight to recruit students – in 2025, and already has its first cohort ready to start classes this summer.
“This is especially meaningful because these students are stepping into something truly unique: the opportunity to be pioneers in a new medical school that is deeply committed to preparing socially accountable, community-engaged, compassionate physician leaders,” said O’Dell in a press release. “They are joining us at the very beginning of an exciting journey, and there is something incredibly powerful about saying, ‘You were here first.’”
From hearing more about curriculum and student support, to seeing the hands-on learning environments and how early clinical exposure will benefit them, students could truly envision their journey ahead to becoming physicians who will make a difference in their communities.
“What stood out most to me was the students’ genuine sense of purpose,” O’Dell added in a press release. “They were thoughtful, motivated, and clearly driven by more than just the goal of becoming physicians – they want to make a difference in the lives of others and in the communities they serve. I was especially struck by how engaged and intentional they were.
To learn more about the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine, from its mission and vision to the admissions process to faculty affairs and joining the team, visit methodist.edu/medicine.
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