The University of Georgia is in the process of pursuing the accreditation for a new public medical school, increasing the number of doctors serving patients across the state and expanding opportunities for prospective medical students. They hope to finish construction of the 93,000 square foot facility on the Athens campus by the end of 2026.

Currently, The Medical College of Georgia is the only public medical school in the state. The MCG is run by Augusta University in Augusta but also has a partnership with UGA. The UGA/AU partnership allows for a regional, four-year medical college within UGA’s campus in Athens. If granted accreditation, UGA’s medical school would become the state’s second public medical school. 

Dr. Erica Brownfield, The University of Georgia’s School of Medicine senior associate dean for academic affairs, believes that the introduction of a second public medical school will bring new opportunities for Georgia residents. 

“It’s an avenue for people who live in Georgia to consider a state institution,” Brownfield said.”It will be only the second public medical school in the state because currently right now the  Medical College of Georgia is the only other state medical school.”

Starting off the accreditation process, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education granted the UGA School of Medicine candidate status in February of this year after touring the school of medicine’s site and reviewing programs and facilities. 

In order to begin advertising and recruiting its first class, the school must be granted official accreditation. UGA will be notified whether or not it has received this accreditation in February of 2026. 

“It’s an excellent and much-needed development,” UGA pre-med and former Midtown student Abby Ippen said.  “A new public medical school in Athens will not only expand access to medical training but also encourage more students from Georgia to stay here and eventually practice in their own communities.” 

There is a chronic shortage of medical professionals in Georgia, particularly in rural areas. Out of 159 Georgia counties, 143 are labeled as “Health Professional Shortage Areas” by the federal government. 

“There were most recently ten counties in Georgia without an active physician,” UGA School of Medicine’s Chief of Staff Taylor Cain said. “This means residents in these counties would need to travel farther to seek medical care, which takes more time and money. Adding additional spots for medical students in the state will hopefully allow for more to stay and practice in Georgia.”

The University of Georgia ranked #9 for undergraduate institutions supplying applicants to U.S. medical schools nationwide in the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. However, since there is currently only one public medical school in-state, many of these students are pushed out of state.

The new facility is funded by a $50 million state fund, matched by $50 million from private contributors. It will include state of the art facilities to accommodate all different kinds of medicine, including simulation suites, a medical library and an emphasis on biomedical research.

UGA’s new medical school hopes to enroll 120 students in its inaugural class, doubling the class size of the current UGA/Augusta University partnership college.

“We hope to capitalize on the existing strengths of UGA as an institution and be able to utilize and create interdisciplinary teams to care for communities out across the state of Georgia,” Brownfield said. “It’s really leveraging UGA as an academic research institution and partnering it with a new medical school to have disciplinary teams to work throughout the state.” 

Showing students underserved areas can make them more inclined to work there in the future. 

“Exposure to these communities allow students to develop a greater understanding to the state’s population,” Cain said. “Additionally, graduates are more likely to work and live in the state where they attend medical school and, or do their graduate medical education, or residency.”

Georgia’s doctors welcome the move to increase the number of medical graduates, especially as the state’s population continues to grow. 

“We simply don’t have enough physicians to keep up with that demand,” Prathima Warrier, Midtown parent and Atlanta ophthalmologist said. “Patients with diabetes or hypertension, for example, need consistent follow-up to prevent serious complications, but many face long waits to see a doctor. More physicians, especially in primary care, are essential to improve long-term health outcomes.”

Georgia’s young prospects are excited about the opportunities UGA’s new facility could provide. 

“I see this new medical school helping me as a pre-med student by providing me with more opportunities at UGA,” Ippen said. “Whether that be more medical professionals and programs at UGA, or increased connection into the medical community within Georgia.“