BREAKING: North Carolina’s newest medical school, the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine, has just received official accreditation, paving the way for its inaugural class to begin in July 2026. This milestone is crucial as the school gears up to address the urgent shortage of healthcare professionals in the region.
Located in Fayetteville, N.C., the state-of-the-art facility is a collaboration between Methodist University and the Cape Fear Valley Health System, boasting a hefty investment of $65 million. Dr. Hershey Bell, the Founding Dean, emphasized the pressing need for more doctors across all specialties in the area: “We are short of doctors in every single specialty in this region, and the purpose of this medical school is to correct that.”
In an exciting development, applications for prospective students will be accepted starting in just 10 days. The school anticipates receiving between 2,000 to 2,500 applications, with plans to interview about 350 candidates during the fall and winter months. Ultimately, 64 students will be selected for the charter class.
The school has already made significant strides in staffing, having hired over 50 faculty and staff members, alongside more than 200 clinical faculty from the Cape Fear Valley Health System. This robust faculty will play a vital role in training the next generation of healthcare providers.
With classes set to launch in less than three years, the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine stands at the forefront of addressing regional healthcare needs. As the application process opens, the community is encouraged to rally support for this transformative initiative.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops and as the school begins its critical mission to enhance medical education and healthcare access in North Carolina.
