North Carolina’s New Medical School Receives Accreditation, Opens Applications

BREAKING: The Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine in Fayetteville, NC, has just received official accreditation, paving the way for its inaugural class to begin recruitment. This milestone is a vital step in addressing the urgent physician shortage across the region, with classes set to commence in July 2026.

The new medical school, a collaborative effort between Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health System, represents a significant investment of $65 million in healthcare education. The state-of-the-art facility will be located on the campus of Cape Fear Medical Center, positioned to train future doctors right where they are needed most.

Dr. Hershey Bell, Founding Dean of the school, emphasized the importance of this development, stating,

“We are short of doctors in every single specialty in this region, and the purpose of this medical school is to correct that.”

Within the next 10 days, the school will begin accepting applications, with expectations to receive between 2,000 to 2,500 applications. The selection process will be rigorous, with around 350 interviews planned for this fall and winter, ultimately admitting 64 students into its charter class.

The school has already made significant strides, hiring over 50 faculty and staff, and is set to utilize more than 200 clinical faculty from the Cape Fear Valley Health System. This initiative not only aims to fill the gaps in medical staffing but also represents a commitment to the community’s health and well-being.

As the opening date approaches, this development is generating excitement among prospective students and healthcare advocates alike. The medical school is positioned to become a cornerstone of medical education and healthcare provision in North Carolina.

Stay tuned for updates as applications open and the school prepares to welcome its first cohort of future healthcare professionals.