By Scott Miller
smiller@scbiznews.com
Published May 18, 2011

The architect and contractor have been hired for the expansion of the University of South Carolina’s medical school at Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, even though the expansion is not yet accredited and could face more political opposition.

In June, Rodgers Builders Inc. will begin development of 86,000 square feet of space for the school, said Dr. Jerry Youkey, GHS vice president of medical and academic affairs. And the architects – CO Architects of Los Angeles – are about halfway through the design, he said.

“We’ve chosen to do this not sequentially but in parallel (with the regulatory process) assuming that we would be successful,” he said. If not, “we’ll try again.”

Hiring has begun too. Four associate deans for the school, all from GHS or USC, have been offered jobs and GHS is doing background checks on six potential faculty members, Youkey said.

USC plans to expand its medical school at GHS from two to four years.

The project has faced opposition from Lowcountry lawmakers who wanted the state Commission on Higher Education to review it. Opponents expressed concerns that the state couldn’t afford another medical school and that the expanded Greenville school would be redundant to education already offered at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. GHS and USC have insisted they won’t seek any state appropriations and have pointed to a statewide shortage of physicians as proof that more med schools are needed.

Last week, the state Commission on Higher Education canceled its hearings to review the expansion after Attorney General Alan Wilson said the commission didn’t have jurisdiction in the matter.

“I think there’s still the potential for someone in the Legislature to provide some kind of an impediment,” Youkey said.

But that isn’t stopping GHS from moving forward with plans to upgrade its facilities at a cost of about $35 million to $40 million, he said. That project should be complete next summer.

The expansion still requires accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the national board that certifies and accredits medical education programs in the United States. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools will also review the expansion, Youkey.

“Those are normal apolitical processes,” Youkey said. “The Commission on Higher Education (review) was more of a political process than I was expecting.”

Barring any political setbacks in South Carolina, Youkey expects to receive accreditation in October. USC and GHS would begin recruiting students at that point, he said. The goal is to open the expanded school in the fall 2012 semester.

Previous coverage
Medical school expansion clears hurdle
USC, GHS boards approve operating accord