FAYETTEVILLE – Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health announced Monday a partnership with the intent to establish the state-of-the-art Methodist University medical school that will train the next generation of healthcare professionals. The new medical school, to be located on the campus of Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, will combine the resources of both institutions to provide students with educational and clinical experiences.
The partnership between the school and healthcare company is a milestone in the history of medical education in southeastern North Carolina and for the growth of Methodist University. The medical school will be an important contributor to the healthcare industry, addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals and improving the quality of healthcare delivery while also following the mission of providing better medical care for rural and underserved populations and diversifying the physician workforce.
The partnership will create opportunities for students to learn in a collaborative and innovative environment, with access to cutting-edge technologies and new, state-of-the-art facilities constructed at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. The school will provide students with the opportunity to work alongside experienced faculty and healthcare professionals.
“We are excited to create a new medical school that will provide students with highly innovative medical education combined with local clinical experiences,” said Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden, pictured above with Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Michael Nagowski. “This partnership is a tremendous opportunity for our institution to engage with Cape Fear Valley Health to address the shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas, and to improve the quality of healthcare delivery, which will enrich the local community and beyond. The focus of this medical school on rural and underserved populations is a perfect match for Methodist’s service-focused mission, and the focus on a health-systems approach to medical education fits well with our longstanding liberal arts tradition.”
Nagowski said, “The creation of a medical school on our campus is truly transformational for Fayetteville and southeastern North Carolina and will create a culture of innovation and excellence in healthcare delivery for our region. Having the opportunity to partner with such a highly regarded and successful university in our community ensures our students will receive an exceptional education that will prepare them to become the next generation of physicians.”
The Methodist University medical school in partnership with Cape Fear Valley aims to begin classes in July 2026 pending approval by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges).
Photo above: Dr. Stanley T. Wearden, president of Methodist University (right), and Mike Nagowski, CEO at Cape Fear Valley Health, speaking at Monday’s press conference in the McLean Health Sciences Building at Methodist University.
About Author
