The systems have discussed, but not disclosed, plans for a collaborative effort in the Winston-Salem market, also with a focus on “finding innovative solutions to enhance care in rural areas.”
Novant-UNC Health medical school campus in Charlotte backed by key educational accrediting group | Local
Dr. Cristy Page, executive dean of the UNC medical school, said the Charlotte campus “will bring great benefits directly to the students who will train at the campus, while enhancing care in the region.”
The expanded partnership “allows us to expand access to medical education and clinical research across the state,” said Carl Armato, Novant’s president and chief executive.
The Novant-UNC Health announcement of the medical-school branch campus follows the Oct. 9 confirmation of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center building a medical-school campus in Charlotte as part of the not-for-profit system combining into one entity with Atrium Health.
Atrium has chosen a 20-acre midtown site for the location. In February, Atrium unveiled illustrations of the planned campus, which is to feature a seven-story main building, a large tower and a fountain area.
Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag, chief executive of Wake Forest Baptist and the medical school dean, said in March that construction will begin in the first quarter of 2022. The campus is scheduled to be ready for students in 2024.
There was an extended attempt to merge UNC Health Care with Atrium in 2017-18 that would have featured a UNC medical school campus in Charlotte. Those talks ended unsuccessfully in March 2018.
