Medical campus in Athens takes another step forward

The Medical College of Georgia received permission Monday from a national accreditation agency to move ahead with plans to open a campus in Athens.

The campus is scheduled to open in August 2010, and college officials will begin accepting applications later this month, spokeswoman Toni Baker said.

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education sent a letter saying planning is on track to admit 40 students to the Medical College of Georgia/University of Georgia Partnership Campus in Athens. The letter was another step in the process to open the campus.

The two colleges are working together to expand medical education programs. The Medical College’s campus in Augusta is at capacity, but UGA has room in its planned health science campus.

The Augusta campus can accommodate 190 students in each class.

As expected, the accrediting agency wanted more information about faculty, facilities and others issues related to the new campus, Baker said. The Medical College is expected to provide an update in August.