Mercer University will open a medical school campus in Columbus and students will begin clinical rotations there this summer, officials announced Friday.

The college is working with The Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital to place up to 80 medical students in Columbus. Mercer's medical school currently enrolls 400 students in Macon and Savannah.

Georgia's medical colleges are expanding because the state ranks 37th in the nation for its supply of physicians. This shortage is primarily a result of supply failing to keep pace with population growth.

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Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com