The (East Carolina University) ECU Brody Med School will soon undergo a $215 million construction and renovation project, which will open new classrooms, and also provide clinical and laboratory spaces.
The ECU Brody Med School project will be partly financed by the 75 million repair and renovation funds, secured from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund. This state budget was recently signed into law by the Governor, Roy Cooper and will be paid in two installments of $21.5 million in Fiscal Year 2021-22 and $53.75 million in Fiscal Year 2022-23. The Executive Dean for the Brody School of Medicine, Dr. Jason Higginson, mentioned that ECU appreciated the support from the legislature and the governor, and they are also grateful for being recognized as a significant contributor to the health care of the state.
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Former Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences, Phyllis Horns had pointed out earlier on that a new medical education building was needed in Brody School to accommodate additional students. Horns explained that the current ECU Brody Med School was built over 40 years ago and is now nearing the end of its life span; therefore, substantial renovations are needed which would cost millions of dollars to accomplish. She also mentioned that the current building was initially built to accommodate a class of 72 students, but over time ECU has expanded the size to its present level of 80-82 students per class.
ECU Brody Med School expands medical program
Horns gave more insight on the state of the health industry and the high demand for primary care physicians, which had prompted the ECU’s decision to expand medical program at its ECU Brody Med School from 82 to 120. She also said, “We know the workforce is in need. They’re many physicians now who are retiring and we need to be preparing the next generation of physicians.”
Philip Rogers, the ECU Chancellor described the ECU Brody Med School project as a landmark moment for the future of rural health care and medical education in North Carolina. Rogers also mentioned that Brody School appreciated the state leaders for investing in their bold and innovative.
