School of Medicine and Novant Health Celebrated Partnership in Medical Education

Dr. Dari Caldwell with Campbell University leaders and trustees.
SALISBURY – Campbell University medical students began making rounds Monday July 27th at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and four other Regional Campuses across North Carolina under the training partnerships established with community hospitals and clinics.
On Friday, Dr. Dari Caldwell, president and CEO of Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, hosted Campbell University President, Dr. J. Bradley Creed, Dr. John M. Kauffman, dean of the medical school, and Dr. Jerry M. Wallace, namesake of the school and Chancellor of Campbell University, for a celebration with the medical students training at the Salisbury hospital. Hospital administrators, staff, and board members were present to celebrate this next step in medical education becoming a reality.
“One year ago this week, Novant Health and Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine announced our affiliation agreement for third and fourth year medical students to receive their training in Salisbury,” said Dr. John M. Kauffman, dean of Campbell’s medical school. 
The 22 medical students training with Novant Health have spent the past two years studying at the medical school in Buies Creek. They will spend the next two years learning hands-on medicine alongside Novant Health’s physician medical staff while living in the Salisbury area and becoming members of the community.  The Friday morning event was an opportunity to fellowship and formally recognize the partnership having become a reality.
In addition to greetings from Campbell University, Mr. Perry Hood, member of the Novant Health Foundation Board, offered an invocation following Dr. Caldwell’s welcome, and Chair of Novant Health’s Board of Directors, Mr. Luke Fisher, shared about Novant’s commitment to the partnership.
“While we know our job in this partnership is to play an integral role in the education of these students, we also know that our medical center and our community will benefit immeasurably by their presence here,” said Fisher.
“We look forward to many years of successful collaboration as we strive together to deliver the highest level of quality healthcare possible.”
Two medical students, Jessica Hulbert and Brad Goforth also shared testimonials regarding why they chose the Salisbury community as the location to continue their medical education.
“I chose Salisbury, NC for my rotation location because it is a small community,” said Goforth a third year medical student from Kings Mountain, NC.  “My first rotation was gastroenterology and now I am in surgery; for the past two years, we have been consumed with the academics of medicine in the books, so it might sound crazy for us to be excited about the 16 hour days we experience during rotations, but we are excited!  So, thank you for welcoming us into your hospital and your community.”