The University of Georgia received approval from its board of regents to establish a medical school in Athens.
The school will be financed using state funding and private support, according to a Feb. 13 news release from the university. In 2023, the university raised more than $240 million in gifts and pledges and has raised more than $200 million each of the last six years.
Under the guidance of the Medical College of Georgia, the new school of medicine intends to partner with local healthcare providers, rural hospitals and clinics to extend the school's impact throughout Georgia in hopes of combating strains on healthcare infrastructure due to a growing population and shortage of medical providers, according to the release.