Toni Baker, a spokeswoman for the Medical College of Georgia, has released this statement in response to efforts by Senator Ed Tarver to stop MCG's planned expansion to Athens.
We appreciate Sen. Tarver's comments and his work to ensure the economic future of the state. MCG wants and needs to grow its School of Medicine to provide more physicians for our state. At the direction of the University System of Georgia and at the recommendation of expansion experts, Georgia's health sciences university is growing in all quadrants of the state: with focal points in Augusta, Athens, Savannah and Albany. We do not intend to lose positions in Augusta rather to expand significantly here - growing our medical student numbers from 190 per class to 240 along with concomitant increases in faculty numbers and research. This growth will require a new medical school building in Augusta and likely another research building as well. We look forward to continued work with Sen. Tarver and other members of the legislature on this important initiative for the health of our state, which currently ranks 41st in the nation in overall health indicators, according to the United Health Foundation.
We appreciate Sen. Tarver's comments and his work to ensure the economic future of the state. MCG wants and needs to grow its School of Medicine to provide more physicians for our state. At the direction of the University System of Georgia and at the recommendation of expansion experts, Georgia's health sciences university is growing in all quadrants of the state: with focal points in Augusta, Athens, Savannah and Albany. We do not intend to lose positions in Augusta rather to expand significantly here - growing our medical student numbers from 190 per class to 240 along with concomitant increases in faculty numbers and research. This growth will require a new medical school building in Augusta and likely another research building as well. We look forward to continued work with Sen. Tarver and other members of the legislature on this important initiative for the health of our state, which currently ranks 41st in the nation in overall health indicators, according to the United Health Foundation.
