Meet the Dean

The School of Medicine continues to build upon its 25 year history of excellence in education of tomorrow’s doctors and health care professionals.

Our school was founded as a public-private partnership in 1982 in order to respond to a critical shortage of primary care physicians in rural Georgia. The school was founded on the key concepts of small group problem-based learning for the basic sciences in the first two years, a commitment to early and recurrent exposure of students to community and rural practice settings, and a strong focus on primary care specialties during the clinical years. We remain committed to these concepts that uniquely prepare students for a lifetime of service and caring.

Beginning in August, 2008, 30 medical students began their studies in Savannah, at the Memorial Health University Medical Center – Savannah campus site. This was the culmination of years of planning to develop a full four year program in Savannah guided by the principle of one school, one dean, one curriculum delivered on two campuses.

The school attracts highly talented students who have the ability to succeed academically and professionally in our rigorous educational and experiential based curricula in medicine, public health, anesthesia, plus marriage and family therapy. We actively seek students who best personify our core values of collaboration, compassion, competence, excellence, integrity, respect, honesty, and service.

• More primary doctors, less cost

William F. Bina III., Dean of the School of Medicine