State leaders and faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are excited about a new home for the university's School of Medicine. As MPB's Maura Moed reports, the new facility could mean more money and jobs for the state.
Yesterday, Governor Phil Bryant along with UMMC officials, and others, celebrated the construction progress of the university's new School of Medicine in a topping-out ceremony. There, a construction beam was signed by the dignitaries and later raised to the roof of the new building.
Chris Monsour is the project manager.
"We all know someone at UMC, we've all been to the doctor at UMC. A relative may come to school here, so it's an awesome project. It's more of a monument than a building of itself," says Monsour.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward is Dean of the School of Medicine. She says it is time for a change.
"The original school of medicine education building was built in 1955. As the school has grown and other schools have gone online, the medical students actually don't have an academic home," Woodward says.
The building will allow most classes and labs to be under one roof - making an easier set up for faculty and students.
Governor Phil Bryant says the new facility will also benefit the state.
"Every physician will bring about 2 million dollars into this community. We'll be graduation per class, about 160 here. We're talking about a 1.75 billion dollar economic impact," Bryant says.
According to Bryant, the new School of Medicine will increase Mississippi's annual tax revenue by $241 million dollars.
