MUSC breaks ground on new College of Medicine facility

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for a new on-campus facility.

The school’s College of Medicine has not had its own dedicated building in over 100 years, but now it’s their turn to get a new home. Students have been sharing spaces with MUSC’s other colleges, along with staff offices being spread out across the campus. Dr. Terrence Steyer, dean of the College of Medicine, is making the building a reality for his students.

“Being able to train the number of students we need here in the State of South Carolina. We’re facing a physician shortage in the next ten years, over 3500 physicians. We need to be able to train more doctors here,” Steyer said. “So, we’ll be able to do this in this new building using new technology to teach the ever-expanding knowledge and reminding students about the care and empathy they need to have.”

The building is expected to include learning spaces, faculty and staff offices, and a cafe. However, the impacts go beyond what will physically be in the facility.

“The building alone is going to help us draw the best and the brightest. We have great students now and I think it’s going to increase the caliber of our program,” Steyer said. “We’re also working on pathways programs for individuals in South Carolina, maybe from rural communities or first-generation students that can actually explore a career in medicine. So, we’re working with them to be able to identify students from maybe rural areas, so they can go practice in those areas when they graduate.”

Some current students may not get to experience the new building, but believe it will be a big advantage for those that will be able to.

“I think it’ll be such a great place to work together. I think MUSC is really big on groupwork because medicine is a team sport, in most cases,” Kathryn Keller, a third-year MUSC medical student, said. “So, I think it’s important to learn those cooperation skills and problem-solving skills early in your career and education.”

Officials expect the building to be open by summer 2027.