AN INTERVIEW WITH THE
NEW DEAN OF ATHENS’
MEDICAL SCHOOL
By Sarah Hasib
Dr. Michelle “Shelley” Nuss took the helm as
dean of the Partnership on March 1, 2016.
Background: why the Augusta university/University of georgia Medical
Partnership came to be and its economic impact
The State of Georgia currently ranks 40th in the na on in its ra o of
physicians to popula on, and rela ve to other states, Georgia has high rates
of infant mortality, obesity, and heart disease. In 2007, in an effort to
address these shortcomings, the Georgia General Assembly appropriated
funds to expand medical educa on/medical school capacity.
school students started in the fall of 2010 with a class of 40. By 2020, each
class will have 60 students. In addi on, the Partnership’s three‐year internal
medicine residency program at St. Mary's Hospital currently has a first‐year
class of 10 physician‐trainees, and will ul mately grow to 30 physician‐
trainees by July 2017.
As a result of the Georgia General Assembly funding, the Board of Regents
of the University System of Georgia retained a medical educa on planning
consul ng firm, Tripp Umbach, to study and provide a roadmap for
expansion of medical educa on. The firm presented its report, including
findings on the economic impact of Georgia’s physician shortage, in early
2008. In short, the impact of having too few physicians in the state is a
steep economic burden. The forecasted shortage of 1,500 physicians in
underserved areas would cost the State of Georgia $5.4 billion annually in
delayed healthcare costs. For each physician that provides primary care in
an underserved area, the state saves $3.6 million annually for care that
would have otherwise been provided in an emergency room. However, the
firm es mated that every $1 invested by the State of Georgia in medical
educa on would result in a return of $2.54 of state tax revenue by 2020.
It is predicted that the posi ve regional economic impact of the Partnership,
through medical educa on, research, and clinical expansion, will be $567
million annually, with 3,000 new jobs and an addi onal $17 million in local
government revenue by 2020. Tripp Umbach also es mated commercial
investment of more than $180 million by 2020 due to medical research
expansion.
Dr. Michelle “Shelley” Nuss took the helm as Dean of the Partnership on
March 1st. Dean Nuss joined the Partnership in 2010, as an Associate
Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Educa on. Dean Nuss
came to Athens from West Virginia University School of Medicine where she
served as the Program Director of the Internal Medicine and Internal
Medicine/Psychiatry Residency Programs, and as Vice President of Medical
Affairs for West Virginia University hospitals. We asked Dean Nuss to share
By early 2009, in light of the Tripp Umbach report, the Board of Regents what she sees as the role of the Partnership in the Athens community and
approved the crea on of the Augusta University/University of Georgia where she sees it headed in the future.
Medical Partnership in Athens. The Partnership’s first class of medical
The Interview
Q. How has your experience working in a new medical school differed
A. What really a racted me to come to Athens was the opportunity to be from your previous experience working at an established medical school
part of something really special ‐ a new medical school campus that would (West Virginia University (WVU))?
afford the opportunity to build new residency programs in partnership with A. WVU is a large academic medical center with nearly 400 residents. The
area hospitals. The resources that both Augusta University and the physicians at WVU have been teaching students and residents for many,
University of Georgia have was also very exci ng and a racted me to many years. Previously in Athens, medical students and residents had not
Athens. Lastly, the opportunity to design and build residency programs from been educated in area physician offices or at the local hospitals, so we had
scratch is such an incredible opportunity not available in most areas around to recruit many dedicated community prac cing physicians to help educate
the residents and students. We are so blessed that we now have a core of
the country.
dedicated community physicians that are willing to teach the medical
students and residents.
Beer kegs wai ng to be filled.
Q. What a racted you to working at a new medical school venture?
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