For more information contact: Boonshoft School of Medicine Marketing and Communications, Cindy Young at (937) 775-2951, or Phillip Neal at (937) 775-4587

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2008

WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine holds grand opening, dedication ceremony for campus building

Event follows three years of renovation, new construction to create the state-of-the-art Medical Education Center in White Hall

DAYTON, Ohio—Local medical students are learning in a specialized, state-of-the-art facility that rivals the best in the nation thanks to an ambitious building project at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.

At a gala grand opening and dedication ceremony on Friday, September 12, at 2 p.m., medical school dean Howard Part, M.D., and university president David Hopkins, P.E.D., invited medical school faculty, staff, students, and friends to experience the new Medical Education Center in White Hall.

The new facility is the result of a three-year project to completely renovate the former Frederick A. White Health Center for Ambulatory Care and to expand the building with an 18,000-square-foot addition. In total, the facility now includes more than 84,000 square feet of lecture halls, classrooms, laboratories, offices, study spaces, computer labs, and common areas, all devoted to the specialized training of tomorrow’s finest medical professionals. 

“The new facility serves as a dedicated home for the medical school in the heart of campus,” said Part. “All of the resources students need during the first two years of their education are now concentrated in one convenient location.”

The medical school’s innovative, community-based educational model has earned the school national recognition, and students will continue to prepare for success in today’s dynamic health care system through diverse experiences at area hospitals and health care facilities, especially in their third and fourth years. At the outset of their medical education, however, the dedicated facility will foster a greater sense of camaraderie, forge stronger connections among classmates and faculty, and allow more time to focus on mastering the fundamentals of their new profession.

Following a convocation ceremony on August 3, the 100 members of the class of 2012 became the first to enjoy full use of the Medical Education Center. Because of its spacious facilities, including two large auditoriums, three computer labs, and numerous study spaces, the center can accommodate two complete classes of students simultaneously.

In addition to dedicating the center, the medical school and its faculty practice, Wright State Physicians, unveiled new logos at the event. The logos resulted from a nine-month project to update the image of the school and practice and bring them more in line with one another and the university. Hundreds of faculty, staff, current and prospective students and local business and community leaders provided input during the development process through a series of focus groups and surveys.

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