North Carolina’s New Medical School Gains Accreditation, Classes Start Soon

UPDATE: North Carolina’s newest medical school, the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine, has just received official accreditation, paving the way for its inaugural class to start in July 2026. This significant milestone is set to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in the region.

Located on the campus of Cape Fear Medical Center in Fayetteville, the new state-of-the-art facility is a joint initiative between Methodist University and Cape Fear Valley Health System, with a total investment of $65 million. Dr. Hershey Bell, the Founding Dean, emphasizes the urgent need for this institution, stating, “We are short of doctors in every single specialty in this region, and the purpose of this medical school is to correct that.”

In just 10 days, the school will begin accepting applications from prospective students. Officials anticipate an overwhelming response, expecting between 2,000 to 2,500 applications. From this pool, about 350 students will be interviewed during the fall or winter, with 64 students ultimately selected for the charter class.

The school has already made significant strides, hiring over 50 faculty and staff, and plans to integrate more than 200 clinical faculty from Cape Fear Valley Health System to provide students with hands-on training.

As the demand for medical professionals continues to rise, this new institution aims to play a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of the community. With classes commencing in just a few years, the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine is poised to make a lasting impact on healthcare in North Carolina.

Stay tuned for further updates as the application process unfolds and the medical school prepares to welcome its first cohort of future doctors.