The expansion of medical schools in the United States is in full effect, addressing the projected shortages of physicians in the United States. These are the 5 new medical schools welcoming their inaugural classes this month. These students are the first ever to learn at their school. No pressure. 1. UC Riverside School of Medicine University of Californnia Riverside School of Medicine is the first medical school to be established in California in several decades. Its first class, consisting of 50 students, started on August 5. The allopathic school is the sixth in the University of California system. Administrators say they plan to emphasize the need for physicians in the inland southern California region, which is largely underserved. The building cost $25 million and the launch required approximately $100 million from the community. 2. Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina, focusing on underserved and rural areas. The inaugural class consists of 162 students, and at full enrollment the school expects to have about 600 students. Campbell is North Carolina’s first new medical school in 35 years. After graduation, students could begin residencies at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville and WakeMed in Raleigh. The facility costed $35 million. 3. Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of 150. This is Indiana’s newest medical school. Every student will receive an iPad, and all materials, including tests, will be electronic. The school adopted a model that trains its students for the coming age of medicine, rather than the current age. Marian University Vice President Paul Evans told reporters, “we have to teach them how to work in the 2025 environment, because that’s when they finish their training.” It took $50 million to construct this state of the art facility. 4. Central Michigan University College of MedicineCentral Michigan University College of Medicine welcomed its first 64 students to class in Mount Pleasant, Michigan this year. The school also states that it hopes to address the growing number of underserved regions, especially rural areas. The students are committed to practicing in Michigan. At full enrollment, Central Michigan University College of Medicine will have 400 students. The building cost $24 million to construct. Watch the new students here: 5. Frank H. Netter, MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University The Frank H. Netter, MD School of Medicine will open on August 19, 2013. The inaugural class of 60 students will study at Quinnipiac University’s North Haven, Connecticut campus. This school has a “paperless” model, meaning that students will upload all 17 required first year books onto their laptops. Source
