JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Construction has officially begun on Northeast Florida’s first four-year medical school, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) at Jacksonville University.
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine announced a partnership with Jacksonville University on Nov. 30, 2022, to establish a four-year medical school in Northeast Florida that will become LECOM at Jacksonville University, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday at 10 a.m.
University leaders, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, and healthcare partners were there to mark the historic occasion.
“Today is a great day for Jacksonville University, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, our healthcare community, the Arlington community, and our city as a whole. There is nothing that is more important than the health of our community,” Deegan said.
Deegan said the city is honored that LECOM chose to invest $50 million to develop this campus. She said it would also support 600 jobs.
She added that this project will play a significant role in the continued growth and revitalization of Arlington and serve as an engine for Jacksonville’s economy.
Silvia Ferretti, LECOM’s Provost, said Jacksonville was in need of positions.
“Our students were training here in the third and fourth year, and you heard that President Cost wanted a medical corridor and he came with the idea rolling out the community, willing to help young men and women want to be doctors,” Ferretti said.
Tim Cost, JU’s president said the community will produce highly qualified doctors.
“This will offer people coming right out of undergrad to have an all four-year experience here, and eventually have rotations in some of the great hospitals,” Cost said.
The school will welcome its inaugural class of 75 medical students to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program next year.
Deegan emphasized that this facility will train the next generation of physicians and strengthen the healthcare workforce in Northeast Florida.