Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
December 4, 2018
Agenda Report # 68
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Support for Mercer Medical School Expansion
INITIATED BY: City Manager?s Office
Recommendation: Approval is requested to support the resolution for the Mercer
Medical School Expansion in Columbus.
Background: In 2012, a partnership was formed between Mercer University School
of Medicine and Columbus hospitals. For the last 6 years, Mercer has trained
3rd and 4th year medical students in Columbus. The goal of the partnership was
to bring a full four-year medical school campus to Columbus. To date, more
than 80 Mercer medical students have trained in Columbus hospitals. Columbus
is situated to be Mercer?s next four-year medical school campus.
Analysis: The economic impact to the community will provide many new
construction jobs to renovate a facility at an estimated cost of $13-14 million
in capital investment. There will be approximately 75 new jobs (faculty/staff)
added to this campus with an annual operating budget of $20 million including a
state appropriation of $9.2 million. Every new physician that starts a practice
in Columbus will generate in excess of $2.5 million in economic impact. The
student population will grow from 30 to 240 over the first 3-4 years.
Financial Consideration: Contingent upon the state providing operating capital
to this project, the commitment will be $100,000 per year for 5 years funded
thru the Economic Development Fund. This funding will be considered in the
FY20 budget process.
Legal Consideration: The City Attorney has reviewed the resolution and approved.
Recommendation/Actions: Approval is requested to support the resolution for the
Mercer Medical School Expansion in Columbus.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
WHEREAS, in February 2012, a partnership was formed between Mercer University
School of Medicine, Columbus Regional Health, and St. Francis Hospital to
establish a clinical campus in Columbus. The goal of this partnership was to,
in time, bring a full four-year medical school campus to Columbus; and,
WHEREAS, to date, more than 80 Mercer Medical students have trained in Columbus
hospitals. As of May 2018, the Columbus Campus has graduated more than 60
physicians to help meet the health care needs of Georgia; and,
WHEREAS, Columbus is ideally suited to be the home of Mercer?s next four-year
medical school campus; and,
WHEREAS, the Mercer Medical School Columbus campus student population currently
educates approximately 28 medical students. With the expansion, it will
increase to 160 and is projected to grow to 240 students; and,
WHEREAS, Mercer Medical School accepts only Georgia residents. To date, more
than 60% of all Mercer graduates remain in the state to practice, regardless of
where they complete their residency. More than 80% stay in state if they
complete their residency in Georgia. Investments in medical education will
bolster physician recruitment efforts while creating ?home grown? physicians
with a high likelihood of staying in Columbus after their training; and,
WHEREAS, the Rural Medical Scholars Program, funded by an endowment, pays from
80-100% of tuition costs if the student, after graduation, commits to practice
for at least four years in underserved rural areas of Georgia; and,
WHEREAS, each Georgia physician contributes, on average, $2.5 million in total
economic impact and, on average, directly supports 10.8 jobs; and,
WHEREAS, aside from bringing high paying jobs to the region in the form of
additional physicians, the Mercer expansion will introduce additional research
opportunities, grant funding, and scientific partnerships to the region; and,
WHEREAS, this Council will consider an annual appropriation of $100,000 for the
next five budget cycles toward this project.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:
We hereby express our support for the establishment of a Mercer University
four-year medical school campus in Columbus, Georgia. Let a copy of this
resolution be forwarded to the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the
Columbus Economic Development Corporation.
____________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the
4th day of December, 2018, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ______ members of Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor House voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_________________________________ __________________________
Lindsey Glisson, Deputy Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
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