This morning, BYU published the following update about the soon-to-be-built medical school coming to the university in a letter from President C. Shane Reese.
Dear Members of the BYU Campus Community,
Most of you know that in late July the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the decision to create a medical school at BYU. As plans continue to develop, I would like to provide the campus community with some updated information.
BYU’s future medical school will provide a high-quality, spiritually-based program that reinforces the mission of BYU and of the Church. The medical school will offer a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD). While the work of developing curriculum takes time, we are exploring innovative approaches aimed at reducing graduation times and costs for students.
The new medical school building will be located on BYU’s campus here in Provo. The location will include classroom instruction and an administrative center. Clinical training will happen in multiple off-site hospital locations. Conversations between Intermountain Health, the University of Utah, and others have been productive regarding the prospect of clinical collaborations.
BYU’s medical school will focus on teaching and training with research in areas of strategic importance to the Church, including international health issues affecting members of the Church and the Church’s worldwide humanitarian efforts.
Significant energy is being devoted to developing and solidifying the plans related to BYU’s new medical school, including the establishment of a medical advisory team.
Jesus Christ healed the sick and served those in need. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we believe BYU’s medical school is another way to lift God’s children. I appreciate the enthusiasm and outpouring of support for this exciting endeavor.
The letter was first published here by BYU’s University Communications.