In less than one year from receiving approval, the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Georgia Southern University in Savannah has officially opened its doors! The grand opening on Friday, July 26, 2024, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the impressive new facility, is a giant leap forward for the universities and our communities.
More importantly, it promises to bring significant upgrades to healthcare in rural Georgia.
David Hess, MD, Dean of MCG, served as the master of ceremonies for the ribbon cutting and opened with a warm welcome and a bit of humor.
"Welcome to MCG Savannah at Georgia Southern. Look at this beautiful facility," he said. "And to all our medical students, come to class like everybody did today, right? This is great."
Dr. Hess emphasized the importance of the new campus, pointing out that Georgia ranks 40th in the country for the number of physicians per capita.
"We need to produce more physicians. Training new doctors brings about $2 million a year to the area. It’s not just about the money; it’s about preventing disease, reducing hospital bills, employing people, and paying taxes," he explained.
Russell Keen, EdD, President of Augusta University, shared some history and future plans for the new campus.
"MCG's presence in Savannah began in 2007 with clinical rotations at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System. Today, we launch a four-year medical campus in Savannah," said Keen. "This campus will train 160 medical students who will complete all four years of their training here, significantly boosting the healthcare workforce in Georgia."
Chancellor Sonny Perdue of the University System of Georgia expressed his excitement for the new campus, as well.
"There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place, right? Savannah made all the sense in the world for this new campus as an extension of the Medical College of Georgia," Perdue said. "This will help ensure quality healthcare throughout the state."
Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns echoed the pride and optimism shared by his colleagues. "This is a great day to be a Georgian, especially a southeast Georgian. The young people I've met this morning are going to change our lives in Georgia," he said.
The tour of the new facility was a highlight, showing off 23,000 square feet of instructional and lab space at the Armstrong Center, cutting-edge simulation centers, and collaborative learning studios. These spaces will give MCG students hands-on experience in every medical discipline.
The Health Professions Academic Building also offers 13,000 square feet of shared anatomy labs and large classrooms.
Kyle Marrero, DMA, President, Georgia Southern University, excitedly explained what a momentous occasion this is for Georgia Southern University, for Augusta University's Medical College of Georgia, Southeast Georgia, and the great city of Savannah.
"I love what this means for our state and our region. In less than three weeks, fall semester starts at GS, and we are expecting over 27,000 students," Marrero said. "Our largest college, The Waters College of Health Professions, is expecting over 5,300 majors. It will be the largest health science college in the state. Anywhere in the region, you are bound to find a GS Allied Science graduate taking care of you."
Paul Hinchey, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System, emphasized the importance of the partnership in expanding healthcare access and education in the region.
"This partnership has taken years and has now morphed into 160 full-time medical students here in Savannah. It’s a model of a public-private partnership," Hinchey said. He highlighted the hospital board's belief in being a proactive partner in economic development and the critical role of healthcare in community growth.
Special recognition was given to key contributors and supporters, including the local legislative delegation and various representatives from federal and state levels.
Dr. Hess acknowledged the tireless efforts of campus dean Elizabeth Gray and other staff who played a pivotal role in making the campus a reality. "We couldn't have done this without Georgia Southern's cooperation and the hard work of our team," said Dr. Hess.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony wrapped up with excitement and anticipation for the future of medical education in Georgia. As the crowd dispersed, it was clear that MCG Savannah at Georgia Southern University is set to make a significant impact on healthcare in the state, fulfilling the promise made over 200 years ago to educate and train physicians to serve the sons and daughters of Georgia.
We will have more coverage soon including interviews with each of the stakeholders in this tremendous educational leap forward.