Industry partners with UGA to strengthen health care in Georgia
The University of Georgia is gaining momentum as it prepares for its first class of medical students — and corporate support is helping them get there.
The university’s long-standing partnerships with industry helped fund the construction of the $100 million Medical Education and Research Building.
The Delta Air Lines Foundation and Southern Company Foundation lead the way with transformative contributions to secure the school’s future.
“We cannot thank The Delta Air Lines Foundation and Southern Company Foundation enough for their tremendous contributions,” said Dr. Shelley Nuss, founding dean of the UGA School of Medicine. “By committing to support our school, they are investing in a healthier Georgia and brighter futures for our students. We are thrilled to count them among our partners.”
The UGA School of Medicine aims to address Georgia’s glaring health care needs. The state is 40th in the nation in physician-to-population ratio, it has 10 counties with no doctor, and nearly one third of its physicians are 60 or older. Additional industry partners like Truist Charitable Fund, Regions Bank, Synovus Bank, Coca-Cola Company, Pruitt Health and Bank of America are ensuring that the school has the resources it needs to tackle challenges like these head-on.
The university has unique advantages that, combined with corporate support, will help ensure the School of Medicine generates new, life-saving knowledge and highly skilled physicians ready to serve the Peach State. UGA is the ninth highest producer of medical school applicants, and prior to the creation of the School of Medicine was the No. 1 recipient of NIH funding among U.S. public universities without a medical school. Additionally, the university’s presence in 159 Georgia counties means that the benefits of the School of Medicine will more easily be felt throughout the state.
“We will continue to look to corporate partners as we enter new and exciting phases of development for the School of Medicine,” said Nuss. “The ongoing support of our corporate partners is vital to our efforts to build a healthier Georgia.”
Anthem, Butler Automotive Group, Landmark Properties, Athens Construction Group and Victory Real Estate also played a key role in supporting the first phase of development for the school.
The School of Medicine is projected to enroll its first class in the fall 2026 semester, pending LCME preliminary accreditation, and the Medical Education and Research Building is expected to be completed by December 2026.
