This summer, SGMC Health will welcome its inaugural class of third- and fourth-year medical students from Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) to its clinical site in Valdosta. The establishment of this site aims to provide students with exposure to high-quality care offered by a tertiary medical center that serves rural communities.
Dr. Jean Sumner, dean of the School of Medicine, stated that the spirit of commitment to the region and its patients at SGMC is impressive. Many of the students are from Georgia and South Georgia, and it is hoped that through this experience, they will choose to stay in the region to practice medicine. Joseph Hayes, MD, a MUSM graduate currently serving as the Designated Institutional Official at SGMC, will be the associate dean leading the Valdosta campus.
The MUSM Valdosta campus will be located within a dedicated Medical Education Unit at 2501 N. Patterson St., offering all required clerkships and electives for Year 3, as well as various rotations for Year 4 of the MD program starting in July 2024. This partnership with SGMC will give students the opportunity to experience a comprehensive rural hospital environment with excellent physicians, highly trained professionals, and the latest equipment and technology.
In addition to the clinical campus, SGMC Health is in the process of constructing a medical simulation center in Valdosta. This center will facilitate medical practice activities, including standardized patient encounters, and provide interdisciplinary training sessions in collaboration with health professions programs at Valdosta State University. SGMC Health has allocated $250,000 for the acquisition of virtual reality and high-fidelity models for ultrasound and procedural training.
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