Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Launches
July 08 2024 - 5:04PM
The new Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old
Dominion University (ODU) establishes the Commonwealth of
Virginia’s largest academic health sciences center. Launched this
month, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences is a result
of Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) integrating with
ODU.
The integration brings five academic colleges and
schools together into Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health
Sciences at Old Dominion University:
- Eastern Virginia
Medical School (EVMS);
- Ellmer College of
Health Sciences;
- Ellmer School of
Nursing;
- EVMS School of
Health Professions;
- and the proposed
Joint School of Public Health (awaiting approval by the State
Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the Council on
Education for Public Health), a partnership with Norfolk State
University.
“The launch is just the beginning of our continued
journey that will mark lasting impact, sustained improvement and
positive momentum in the fundamental areas of education, research
and clinical care throughout our region and the commonwealth,” ODU
President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., said. “As the largest academic
health sciences center in the state, we offer more programs, enroll
more students and produce more graduates.”
EVMS brings its rich 50-year history as a medical
school founded by the community, for the community, to ODU, a
Research 1 (R1) institution classified by the Carnegie
Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. By integrating
with ODU, nearly 2,195 EVMS employees became state employees and
more than 1,440 students became Monarchs.
In a letter to campus, President Hemphill wrote,
“As we have successfully secured all required approvals, most
notably from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the
launch marks a transformational moment in the storied history of
our great institution with the official establishment and first day
of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion
University. It is a direct result of nearly three years of
unwavering collaboration, true partnership and hard work at both
the individual and collective levels across our campus and the
community.”
In a recent video message to EVMS,
Alfred Abuhamad, M.D., now serving as ODU’s executive vice
president for health sciences and dean of Eastern Virginia Medical
School, acknowledged the hard work and investment of talent and
time by faculty and staff.
“Because of you — and your dedication to our
shared ideals, your faith in our promise — we stand today on the
shoulders of our founders and all who came before us empowered to
shape a future that is stronger and healthier for our entire
community and even beyond,” he said.
The integration was achieved through the
leadership and support of Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia’s
General Assembly, including The Honorable Sen. L. Louise Lucas and
The Honorable Del. Barry D. Knight, who served as chief co-patrons
of the enabling legislation. The General Assembly allocated $65
million for operations in the 2024-26 biennium budget.
Sentara Health is a committed partner to the
integration, dedicating approximately $350 million in funding over
the next decade to ensure high-quality training for the next
generation of healthcare professionals.
On June 7, the University announced two major
gifts of support totaling $40 million. Dennis and Jan Ellmer
committed $20 million to provide scholarships for students pursuing
health sciences degrees at ODU. The awards, through the Dennis
& Jan Ellmer Health Scholars Program and the Dennis & Jan
Ellmer Nursing Scholars Program, represent a unique mix of both
need- and merit-based criteria. Within a decade of operation, the
Ellmer Health Scholars Program alone will provide a total of $3.3
million in direct support of 275 total scholarship awards in both
new and renewable formats.
The academic health sciences center bears the name
of the late Macon Brock and his wife, Joan Brock, whose generous
gift of $20 million established the Brock Opportunity Scholarship
for medical students. The scholarship will support promising
students with financial need who live in Virginia, are interested
in caring for underserved populations, and plan to practice in
Hampton Roads or Virginia upon completion of their residency or
fellowship.
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ABOUT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY: Old
Dominion University, located in Norfolk, is Virginia's
forward-focused public doctoral research university with over
24,000 students, a top R1 research ranking, rigorous academics, an
energetic residential community and initiatives that contribute
$2.6 billion annually to Virginia's economy.
Amber Kennedy
Old Dominion University
alkenned@odu.edu