UNCW School of Medicine

UNCW’s program will help address our state’s physician shortage with purpose and speed: 

• A four-year MD program
• An accelerated three-year track to move physicians into practice more quickly
• Curriculum shaped by regional health priorities
• Clinical experiences embedded in the communities that need care most 

This is more than a milestone. It is a turning point for our region and, most importantly, for the people who call southeastern North Carolina home. 

Addressing Critical Regional Health Needs

North Carolina is facing a worsening physician shortage, especially in rural and southeastern communities. These gaps limit timely care, strain emergency departments, and reduce access to both primary and specialty services. With the state’s population growing, the pressure on an already thin workforce will only intensify. 

At the same time, far more qualified North Carolina students want to pursue medical education than current programs can accept. This mismatch restricts affordable pathways into medical careers and weakens the talent pipeline across our state. 

Continuing Our Mission of Service to North Carolina

A new medical degree program at UNC Wilmington offers a bold, forward‑looking solution. By expanding physician training capacity in this growing region, UNCW can open more doors for North Carolina students, strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce, and advance North Carolina’s commitment to affordability, access, and opportunity. 

The UNCW School of Medicine reflects more than institutional vision. It showcases community momentum. 

Healthcare leaders, local governments and regional partners have come together to support this effort, recognizing its potential to improve healthcare access, strengthen the workforce and support long-term economic vitality. New Hanover County, the City of Wilmington and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce issued proclamations endorsing the initiative. Hospitals and healthcare centers in New Hanover, Brunswick,  Pender, Columbus, Duplin and Onslow counties have given the university letters of support.

That support echoes the very foundation of UNCW itself. We are a university created by and for its community. And we are here to serve. 

For future medical students across southeastern North Carolina, this school represents opportunity close to home. UNCW will create a pathway for aspiring physicians to: 

• Train in the communities they know
• Build relationships with local providers
• Develop a deep understanding of regional health needs
• Stay and serve after graduation

UNC Board of Governors Chair Wendy F. Murphy — Class of 1993

“This program reflects the very best of what our universities strive to do — serve our students and our state with purpose, innovation and collaboration. UNCW has spent decades building strength in the health sciences and forging deep community partnerships. This is a thoughtful, future-focused opportunity to expand students’ access to medical education, strengthen the healthcare workforce in the region and create lasting impact across North Carolina.”

UNC Board of Governors Member Woody White  

“Greenlighting a medical school at UNCW just makes sense for North Carolina, and I am honored to help advance the visionary program the university is developing. This extraordinary milestone marks the first time in more than 50 years that a new public medical school has been approved in our state. Now UNCW has the opportunity to expand access for students, prepare more doctors, and strengthen healthcare for the people of southeastern North Carolina.” 

NC Rep. John Bell — Class of 2001

“This is a great day for North Carolina, my home region and UNCW. As a Seahawk, I deeply appreciate the university’s commitment to enhancing the health and wellness of southeastern North Carolina with the first public medical school approved in our state in 50+ years.”

Chair of the New Hanover County Commissioners LeAnn Pierce 

“Opportunities like this change lives. I have seen how education creates pathways, and developing a medical school at UNCW will strengthen our workforce, support a growing community, and expand access to healthcare for families across our region.” 

New Hanover County Commissioner and UNCW Trustee Dane Scalise  

“This decision is about people — especially students from our community who want to become doctors, patients in our region who need better access to care, and citizens who deserve the best services we can provide. Bringing medical education closer to home will strengthen our connections with each other and deliver better outcomes where they matter most.” 

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo — Class of 1983  

“This will be the biggest thing to happen for our community since the university’s founding in 1947. It is a defining moment for Wilmington, bringing together education, healthcare and community in a way that will help people here for generations to come.” 

Pender County Commissioner Dr. Jimmy T. Tate ’99, ’01M, ’19M 

“As a UNCW graduate and trustee, I have seen firsthand how the university shows up for our community, and this next step reflects that same commitment to service. I also see the growing need for accessible, high-quality healthcare from our rural communities to our rapidly expanding retiree population. Establishing a medical school at UNCW is a forward-looking investment that puts people first. This decision will create new pathways for students, bring more doctors into our communities, and help shape a healthier, stronger future for southeastern North Carolina.” 

UNCW Board of Trustees Chair Hugh Caison — Class of 1985 

“As a Wilmington native and UNCW graduate, this opportunity means a lot to me and to the community that I care about the most. Starting a medical school in southeastern North Carolina reflects the heart of our university. We are ready to open new doors for future doctors while improving the quality of healthcare across the region that UNCW proudly calls home.” 

UNCW Board of Trustees Member Yousry Sayed

“UNCW has long been a place where students receive a high-quality education, open new doors and discover limitless opportunities. At UNCW, students learn, grow and build meaningful careers that empower them to give back. To see this great university take this bold step is a testimony to the incredible progress we have made and the strong leadership and vision of Chancellor Volety. It also speaks to how deeply committed UNCW is to our community and its future progress. As someone who advised and mentored health sciences and premedical students for most of my tenure at UNCW, it is both exciting and rewarding to imagine the future impact this step will have for many deserving students, for critical healthcare needs and for the future of our growing region and the great state of North Carolina.”

Natalie English, President and CEO, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce  

“When a community knows where it’s going, it invests in the things that matter most. For us, that means people, especially our workforce and their families. The Wilmington Chamber stands ready to help advance the UNCW medical school because this plan emphasizes the opportunity to grow our own talent, strengthen the connections between education and industry, and keep more doctors right here at home.” 

The UNCW School of Medicine is more than a program; it is an opportunity to change lives. Whether you are a prospective student, a healthcare partner, a community leader or a supporter of this vision, there are ways to be part of what comes next. 

Contact UNCW to Get Involved: 

• Explore partnership opportunities.
• Connect with program leaders.
• Support the school’s development.
• Stay informed as milestones unfold.

Together, we can expand access, educate future physicians and strengthen the health of our region for generations to come.

Contact medicalschool@uncw.edu for information.