Charlotte will soon open its first four-year medical school thanks to Wake Forest School of Medicine. According to WCNC, the campus will expand to a 20-acre site in Midtown at Baxter Street and South McDowell Street. The new school is expected to open for students in 2024 and bring in over 40,000 jobs.
"Through our partnership with Wake Forest School of Medicine, today we fulfill a long-held desire for Charlotte to have a four-year medical school that will usher in a brand-new era of healthcare education, innovation and social impact," President and CEO of Atrium Health Eugene A. Woods said in an announcement Wednesday (March 24).
Mayor Vi Lyles called the announcement a "milestone" and said bringing the new school to Charlotte has been wanted for years. According to WBTV, it is expected that the school will have a $5.2 billion economic impact in the area and bring in around 43,000 jobs.
"The significant investments we are making will not only enrich countless lives as we train the next generation of top-tier clinicians but will also be a pivotal economic driver that will propel us forward as we emerge from the pandemic, stronger than ever," said Woods.
Gov. Roy Cooper chimed in, claiming the school will make Charlotte and its surrounding areas healthier.
"A second campus for Wake Forest School of Medicine in Charlotte is truly a significant milestone for both health and education in the Southeast," said Nathan O. Hatch, Ph.D., president of Wake Forest University. "It will also be a driving force for innovation in the corridor between Winston-Salem and Charlotte."
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