Our Speaker for the January 2010 meeting was Allison Bracewell McCullick, the Program Coordinator for Health Initiatives, from the Medical College of the University of Georgia, Medical Partnership.  The partnership was formed in 2008 to ease the shortage of physicians in Georgia, and consists of the Medical College of Georgia, St. Mary’s Hospital, Athens Regional Medical Center, and the Northeast Medical Center in Gainesville.

The first class will begin their studies in August, 2010, with 40 students.  The MCG/UGA Medical Partnership is expected to educate 60 new students per year as part of an overall plan to increase the MCG School of Medicine's overall Georgia class size from 190 to 300 students by 2020.

The Interim Medical Partnership Building, at 279 Williams Street in Athens, is one block from the main UGA Campus.  The 37,000 square-foot building was constructed in 1857 and was known as the Athens Cotton and Wool Factory.  Allison offered to schedule a tour of the building, should we be interested.

In 2011, the University of Georgia is scheduled to acquire the Navy Supply Corps School on Prince Avenue near downtown Athens.  The 58 acre campus will be known as the UGA Health Sciences Campus and will house the MCG/UGA Medical Partnership, the UGA College of Public Health, and other health-related programs.

Allison also told our group about a Volunteer Program to assist the medical students.  Patient volunteers are being sought, so that students will have real-time experience in dealing with live patients.  In order to participate, you would be required to make 4 appointments a year.  The program is a valuable tool for the students to gain diagnostic and patient/physician interpersonal skills.

As Athenians, we are proud of the growth of the University and the potential opportunities this program brings to Athens and to Georgia.