The UNC School of Medicine will soon have a new branch campus to offer North Carolinians a new way to access its top-rated schooling.

The branch campus will be located at the Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Made possible through a new partnership between UNC Health, the UNC School of Medicine and Novant Health, the new campus will serve as a training site for many in the medical field.

The partnership, announced this week, is an effort to “expand medical education, research and clinical services” in Novant Health facilities across New Hanover, Mecklenburg and Forsyth Counties, according to a release from UNC Health. In addition to the initial goal of opening the branch campus, the organizations will be working to find solutions to improve and enhance care for North Carolinians in rural areas.

“I am excited for the opportunities ahead for Novant Health, UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine to build a healthier North Carolina and to train more physicians for North Carolina,” said Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO, UNC Health and dean of UNC School of Medicine. “Our partnership will impact health in North Carolina for decades to come.”

Expansion of the School of Medicine’s Kenan Primary Care Medical Scholars Program is also planned and will be critical to training more students to work in rural and under-resourced communities. Additionally, clinical trials and studies from UNC School of Medicine’s world-renowned researchers will provide new treatment options for patients in Novant Health facilities.

The UNC School of Medicine is ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as the best medical school for primary care in the United States, as well as 23rd in research. More information on the school’s partnership with Novant Health, including a timeline for the branch campus, are expected to be shared as details are finalized.

Photo via UNC.

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