Methodist University Completes Fayetteville Medical School as UNC Wilmington Plans 2029 Campus

North Carolina is expanding its medical education infrastructure to address a projected shortage of more than 7,000 doctors by 2030. The Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine in Fayetteville has reached completion and is set to welcome its inaugural class of 64 students this July. This facility, situated behind the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, marks the state’s sixth medical school.

Meanwhile, the University of North Carolina Wilmington is moving forward with plans for a new medical school scheduled to open in 2029, following a recent vote by the UNC Board of Governors. The project aims to improve healthcare access in the southeastern region of the state, where rural communities face significant physician deficits. Officials emphasize that expanding local medical education capacity is vital for training and retaining talent within the state, though industry experts note that federal caps on Medicare-funded residency positions remain a primary hurdle to increasing the total number of practicing physicians.