BUIES CREEK – One year from now, the 150 students making up the first class of the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine will be here.
“And we’re going to be ready for them,” said James Roberts, Campbell’s vice president for business and treasurer.
Construction on the Leon Levine Medical Sciences Center — the 96,500-square-foot facility that will house the medical school — began in December 2011; and it’s about 65 percent complete, Roberts said.
Currently, brick is being added to the exterior of the first two buildings that will make up the initial phase of the center. In addition, Roberts said, “all the studs are in place, all the wiring is in place, all of the HVAC is in place.”
BY THE NUMBERS
700
completed applications received since June 1, 2012, when the medical school began accepting applications
150
students who’ll be admitted into the medical school’s first class
65
full-time faculty and staff to be hired to initially work at the medical school
$24 million
amount of gifts and commitments to the medical school in the past year alone
$60 million
estimated amount of construction and start-up costs of the medical school
1,158
new jobs expected to be created in North Carolina during the medical school’s first 10 years of operation
$300 million
the regional economic impact expected during the medical school’s first 10 years of operation
Once the brick is installed by the end of October, then the sheetrock will be added to seal it all off, keeping the university on schedule to open the facility by May 2013 and to welcome its first medical school class in the fall of 2013.
“We want to get our faculty and staff in there and set up so we can have all the kinks worked out before the students arrive,” Roberts said.
The Campbell medical school has received more than 700 completed applications for its inaugural class since June 1, when it began accepting applications. Forty prospective medical school students will be on campus in late August and September to begin the interview process. A total of 150 students will be admitted, and applications will be accepted until the class is filled.
Located on U.S. Highway 421 about a quarter-mile from Campbell’s Buies Creek campus, Campbell’s medical school will be the first one to open in North Carolina in 35 years when it’s completed. It’ll primarily focus on training students in primary care and family medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry and other services, with an emphasis on producing graduates who work in rural areas or regions with little or no health care options.
Also learn more about: Medical School grants total $4M
Photos by Billy Liggett | Story by Cherry Crayton