Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) commented this week on the plans for Augusta University to establish a four-year medical school campus of the Medical College of Georgia at the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University in Savannah.
Funding for this project was included in the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget with $1.69 million in bond funding that will go toward renovating office, classroom and lab space on the Armstrong Campus.
“Georgia ranks 40th in the nation for both the number of active physicians and the number of primary care doctors,” said Speaker Burns. “Georgians experience this reality everyday – data shows that 82 Georgia counties have no OB/GYNs, 65 counties have no pediatricians and nine Georgia counties have no doctor at all. This must change, especially in rural Georgia.”
“Increasing opportunities within the University System of Georgia allows Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia to educate and train more students and meets a clear need to make sure our communities receive better health care,” continued Speaker Burns. “Georgia needs more doctors, and I’m proud we are making this investment in our future.”
“I want to thank our Board of Regents, Chancellor Sonny Perdue and the entire team at the University System of Georgia for working on this exciting new opportunity,” added Speaker Burns. “I also want to thank Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett and Special Committee on Healthcare Chairman Butch Parrish for their help with this project.”
