Mercer University School of Medicine and HCA Healthcare’s South Atlantic Division will celebrate the signing of an academic partnership agreement. Through the agreement, Mercer will work closely with HCA Healthcare’s graduate medical education programs at Memorial Health (Savannah), Coliseum Medical Centers (Macon, GA), Trident Medical Center (Charleston, SC) and Orange Park Medical Center (Jacksonville, FL). In addition, residents will also have opportunities for rotations at two of HCA South Atlantic’s rural hospitals – Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross, GA, and Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin, GA.
 
“We very much look forward to expanding opportunities for high-quality graduate medical education, fellowships and research with the outstanding HCA hospitals encompassed within this new affiliation agreement,” said Mercer President William D. Underwood.
 
An Association of American Medical Colleges study shows that the United States is facing a worsening physician shortage and that by 2032 we will see a shortage of more than 46,000 physicians.
 
“Mercer University School of Medicine is an outstanding partner and a leader in medical education,” said Hugh Tappan, president for HCA Healthcare’s South Atlantic Division. “The goal of this program is to expand our reach in assisting medical students and placing them into residency programs to help address the shortage of physicians currently facing our country.”
 
Through the partnership with HCA South Atlantic, Mercer University will provide faculty support and research opportunities for the graduate medical education (GME) residency programs HCA South Atlantic’s hospitals.   The GME Consortium Affiliation Agreement will allow for the hospitals and Mercer University School of Medicine to collaborate on the creation and delivery of continuing professional education programs, including specialized medical/surgical skills assessment and development modules utilizing simulation, robotics and other advanced technology.