UNC-Wilmington Proposes Four-Year Medical School to Address Physician Shortage
UNC-Wilmington seeks approval to establish a four-year medical school as North Carolina faces a projected deficit of over 7,700 physician positions by 2030.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — University of North Carolina at Wilmington Chancellor Aswani Volety informed the UNC System’s Board of Governors Wednesday about plans to establish an accredited four-year medical school with a three-year accelerated track to address the state’s physician shortage.
The proposal arises as southeastern North Carolina faces healthcare challenges, with patients experiencing longer wait times for care, increased reliance on emergency departments, and higher hospitalization rates due to limited physician availability.
Statewide Physician Shortage Projected to Worsen
“By 2030, North Carolina is projected to have a deficit of over 7,700 physician positions. This is on top of a growing state and aging demographics,” Volety told the board’s planning committee. “And despite being a fast-growing state, North Carolina ranks 40 out of 50th in medical students per capita.”
The geographic distribution of existing medical schools compounds the problem for southeastern regions. Six of the seven existing medical schools in North Carolina are located between I-77 and I-95, with the closest medical program to Wilmington at Eastern Carolina University more than two hours away.
Local Training Could Improve Physician Retention
Volety highlighted the connection between local medical education and physician retention in underserved areas. “Imagine taking an individual with deep roots in the community. They go to medical school in a place like Wilmington, they do their residency there. The odds of returning go up to 80%, as has been the case in other states,” he said. “So that is an approach we should be taking.”
The university is currently seeking authorization to begin the planning process for the medical school rather than immediate approval for the program itself.
Strong Legislative Support Emerges
The proposal received endorsement from veteran state Rep. John Bell, a Republican from Wayne County, during Wednesday’s presentation. “It’s not just going to benefit just our region. It’s going to benefit the entire state – and frankly, the entire eastern seaboard of our country,” Bell said. “It’s incredible what we can do when public and private and communities come together.”
The proposed medical school would feature both traditional four-year programs and an accelerated three-year track, designed to address the urgent need for healthcare providers in the region.
UNC-Wilmington’s initiative is part of broader efforts across North Carolina to expand medical education capacity as the state deals with population growth and an aging demographic that requires increased healthcare services.
The UNC System’s Board of Governors will consider the authorization request as part of their ongoing planning process, with supporters arguing that strategic placement of medical education programs could significantly impact physician distribution across the state.
