MELLOW: STATEMENT ON FEDERAL APPROVAL OF MED SCHOOL

 

HARRISBURG, Oct. 7, 2008 – Senate Democratic Leader Bob Mellow made the following statement concerning the news that the federal Liaison Committee on Medical Education has accredited the new Commonwealth Medical School.

“This accreditation approval is great news for Northeastern Pennsylvania. With construction on a new facility in progress, this federal announcement is another significant step toward welcoming the school’s first class of students in August, 2009.

“I am proud of what we worked together to accomplish as a community and excited over what this medical school will mean to our region’s future. It has been nearly 50 years since the last medical college opened its doors in Pennsylvania. All of us share in this success and can be proud of our cooperative roles in making this project happen.”

The future Medical Sciences Building should be finished in 2011, serving more than 500 medical and Master of Biomedical Sciences students and 175 full-time equivalent faculty members and support personnel. The site will have 185,000 square feet of space for classrooms, student support space and research facilities.

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