UNCW Moves Forward with Vision for a Community-Driven Medical School

In southeastern North Carolina, momentum is building at UNC Wilmington around an idea years in the making: educating future doctors closer to the communities that need them most. 

With a key vote of support on Thursday, May 21 from the UNC Board of Governors, UNCW has been authorized to begin formal planning for a medical school, a step that signals both opportunity and urgency. The university will now enter the UNC System’s academic planning process, exploring the creation of an accredited four-year medical degree program, including an accelerated three-year track designed to move physicians into the workforce more quickly. 

For people across the region, this moment is much larger than any process. It signals momentum, both at UNCW and across North Carolina, to move quickly to address a critical shortage of doctors. Once opened, this program will become the state’s first new public medical school in more than 50 years. 

At its heart is a simple idea: where students train shapes where they practice. By creating a place-based model of medical education, UNCW aims to prepare physicians who are not only highly skilled, but also deeply connected to southeastern North Carolina, making them more likely to stay. 

“This program reflects the very best of what our universities strive to do — serve our students and our state with purpose, innovation and collaboration,” said Wendy F. Murphy, chair of the UNC Board of Governors and a member of the UNCW Class of 1993. “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.” 

The UNCW model is intentionally different from the state’s other public medical degree programs. Rather than building a standalone teaching hospital, the university’s vision centers on a distributed, community-based approach. The university will partner with hospitals, clinics and rural providers across the region to serve as training sites for future physicians. 

This approach is rooted in both necessity and UNCW tradition. North Carolina faces a projected shortage of more than 7,700 physicians by 2030, with southeastern communities among the most affected. Rapid population growth, an aging population and uneven access to care are placing increasing pressure on healthcare systems, making the need for locally trained physicians more urgent than ever. 

“We are grateful that UNCW received approval from the Board of Governors. The board’s support allows us to take an important next step toward addressing one of the most pressing healthcare challenges facing our region and state,” said Chancellor Aswani K. Volety. “Our vision is to build a future-focused, community-engaged program that strengthens the physician workforce while expanding patients’ access to high-quality care.” 

That vision has already galvanized widespread local support. Healthcare leaders, community partners and elected officials have rallied behind the effort, recognizing its potential to shape not only education, but health outcomes and economic vitality. New Hanover County, the City of Wilmington and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce issued proclamations endorsing the initiative. The following regional healthcare partners have also expressed support:  

• Dawson Med 
• Goshen Medical Center 
• MedNorth Health Center 
• Novant Health 
• Wilmington Health 

In many ways, this effort echoes UNCW’s origins. Founded in 1947 as Wilmington College, the public institution was created by local leaders and citizens determined to expand access to higher education for veterans returning home after World War II.  

That same community-driven spirit has guided the university ever since. Over decades, UNCW has consistently developed programs aligned with regional workforce needs, from nursing and supply chain management to marine sciences, film studies, psychology and coastal engineering. The university’s medical school represents the next chapter in the story that connects UNCW to the communities it proudly serves.  

Although work to establish the medical school will begin immediately, it will take time to develop the program and recruit students. In 2026, the university will begin the search for a founding dean, continue close collaboration with the UNC System to develop and refine plans for the school, and move into the rigorous accreditation process required to establish a new medical program. Planning will include recruiting a dedicated faculty and developing a curriculum designed to reflect the needs, strengths and realities of the region. UNCW has an ambitious goal to welcome its first students in either the fall of 2029 or the fall of 2030. 

For those who have watched UNCW grow over decades, this moment carries both pride and promise. 

Philanthropist Yousry Sayed, a member of the university’s Board of Trustees, CEO of Quality Chemical Laboratories and former UNCW chemistry teacher, said: “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.”