MCG shares plans to address physician shortage in state of college address

AUGUSTA, Ga. - On Friday, DEAN HESS GAVE HIS ANNUAL STATE OF the Medical college of georgia ADDRESS.

Dean Hess calls it a HISTORIC YEAR FOR Medical College of Georgia WITH THE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH WELLSTAR. “THAT FINANCIALLY STABILIZES OUR HEALTH SYSTEM, ALLOWS US TO PUT A REGIONAL CAMPUS IN MARIETTA, AT KENNESTONE HOSPITAL," he says. "AND THEN, ACTUALLY EXPaNDS OUR DIGITAL HEALTH OFFERINGS. WE DO A LOT OF TELEMEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH AROUND THE STATE.”

MEANWHILE, MCG IS ALSO WORKING ON A NEW PARTNERSHIP IN SAVANNAH. the FOUR year PROGRAM is SET TO START IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. “WE’RE ACTUALLY DOING SOME RENOVATIONS TO ALLOW OUR CLASS OF 40 STUDENTS TO GO THERE," he says. "THAT’LL BRING OUR FIRST YEAR CLASS SIZE TO OVER 300, MAKING US ONE OF THE six LARGEST MEDICAL SCHOOL’S IN THE COUNTRY.”

ONE MCG, ONE MISSION AND many CAMPUSES. Dean hess says campuses are now IN ALL 4 CORNERS OF THE STATE: ATHENS, ATLANTA, ALBANY, BRUNSWICK, ROME, DALTON and SAVANNAH.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA'S BOARD OF REGentS VOTED IN FAVOR OF A NEW INDEPENDENT MEDICAL SCHOOL COMING TO ATHENS. UGA'S PRESIDENT SAYS THE GOAL IS THAT THE NEW SCHOOL WILL BE A USEFUL TOOL TO HELP FIGHT THE GROWING SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN THE PEACH STATE.

GEORGIA RANKS 40th IN THE NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS AND RESIDENTs. SO, Dean hess says they are getting creative to address the shortage. “THAT’S ONE OF THE REASONS WE CHANGED OUR CURRICULUM, WE NOW HAVE A three YEAR MEDICAL SCHOOL," he says. "THE CORE CURRICULUM IS DONE IN three YEARS AND SOME STUDENTS GRADUATE AFTER three, INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL four AND START THEIR RESIDENCY. THEN, IF THEY PRACTICE IN UNDERSERVED GEORGIA, WE PAY THEIR TUITION FOR THE NUMBER OF YEARS THEIR WILLING TO PRACTICE."

Here in the CSRA, WELLSTAR EXPECTS TO HAVE a columbia county hospital UP AND RUNNING BY 2026.

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