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 major development comes as the institution gears up to start accepting applications within the next 10 days.
Located at the Cape Fear Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina, this state-of-the-art facility represents a significant investment of $65 million and a collaborative effort between Methodist University and the Cape Fear Valley Health System. The urgency of this initiative cannot be overstated, as the region faces a critical shortage of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Hershey Bell, the Founding Dean, emphasized the necessity of the medical school, stating,
“We are short of doctors in every single specialty in this region, and the purpose of this medical school is to correct that.”
As the school prepares to recruit its first class, officials anticipate receiving between 2,000 to 2,500 applications. From this pool, they will conduct interviews with approximately 350 students during the upcoming fall or winter, ultimately selecting 64 students for the charter class.
The medical school is already making strides in staffing, having hired over 50 faculty and staff members, and plans to utilize more than 200 clinical faculty from Cape Fear Valley Health System to ensure top-notch education and training.
This development is not just a milestone for the university but also a vital response to the pressing healthcare needs of the community. As classes are set to begin in less than three years, the impact of this institution will be felt by countless residents in the region.
Stay tuned for further updates as the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine moves forward in its mission to bolster the healthcare workforce in North Carolina.
