School of medicine given the green light at UGA

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A new medical school is in the works for the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens.

The Georgia Board of Regents voted to launch the school Tuesday making it the state’s second public medical school.

The vote will allow UGA to acquire the proper accreditation, through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) to establish the school.

Georgia’s population growth has skyrocketed in recent years creating reduced access to care.

Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, said several counties don’t have physicians or access to specialist doctors.

“Georgia is doing well in so many areas but not that one. That’s why it’s critical that we produce more physicians to have a healthy Georgia and medical expertise that can care for our citizens that continue to come to Georgia,” Perdue said.

For several years, UGA has partnered with the University of Augusta to conduct a smaller-scale medical program on the Athens campus.

If and when the LCME accreditation is approved, the next step would be a secure a new faculty.

Gov. Brian Kemp has proposed $50 million in state funds toward the construction of the medical school.

The bill is headed to the Georgia Senate.

Perdue said they hope to have the first students enrolled in 2026.

“We want to graduate more doctors, we want to provide more graduate medical education slots here and we want them to stay here and practice and keep our Georgians healthy,” he said.

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