Health sciences advance

“If it is Christian, it ought to be better,” Dr. Jerry Falwell said.

Liberty University has continued this legacy through campus improvements in both facilities and programs over the past 41 years, including a new School of Osteopathic Medicine, which is preparing to enroll its first class of students in the fall of 2014, according to Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr.

New construction — . This is the proposed architectural drawing for the Liberty University Center for Medical and Health Sciences building. Photo provided

“I think it’s a fulfillment of Dr. Falwell’s vision for raising champions for Christ, to send students from all over out into the world, in all areas of life,” Pre-Med Advisor Dr. Mark Blais said.

The Liberty administration has been working with officials from the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine for several years to plan and prepare for the center’s approval and opening, according to Falwell.

“We first considered establishing a branch campus of another medical school here at Liberty, but eventually decided to step out on faith and start our own,” Falwell said. “We didn’t have the knowledge or experience necessary, but we trusted God.”

The university took its first step toward establishing its new School of Osteopathic Medicine by hiring Dr. Ronnie Martin.

Martin came to Liberty from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“Dr. Ronnie Martin is a committed Christian, having served most recently at another Christian medical school,” Falwell said. “His prior experience includes founding an osteopathic school of medicine in Oklahoma and serving in a leadership role with the body that accredits schools of osteopathic medicine. His qualifications make him uniquely qualified to serve as the founding dean of the Liberty University School of Osteopathic Medicine. We are blessed to have associated with Dr. Martin.”

Along with a new dean, Liberty is looking to house the school in a new location.

According to a proposal from Liberty’s administration last fall, the School of Osteopathic Medicine as well as the School of Health Sciences will be housed in a new 100,000-square-foot facility across from the Lynchburg Airport.

“Our Provost, Dr. Ron Godwin, and his team were assisted by the administration and faculty of the Edward Via School of Osteopathic Medicine as they conducted extensive research and feasibility studies,” Falwell said. “Funding was approved by the Tobacco Commission and experts like Dr. Ronnie Martin were hired. When it all seemed to fall into place so quickly, we knew it was God’s will.”

The new school is expected to add net annual spending of $19 million in tobacco localities, 219 direct new faculty and staff jobs and $1.2 million of new state and local tax revenues, according to a Liberty-commissioned economic impact assessment, as stated in the Liberty Champion fall 2011.

“Some of the highest unemployment rates in the country can be found in Virginia communities south of Lynchburg. Their economies were devastated when the furniture and textile industries moved operations overseas and tobacco companies were besieged by litigation,” Falwell said. “Many communities in Southside Virginia are under-served by medical professionals. We really have a mission field in our own backyard and Liberty’s new medical school will help meet the physical and spiritual needs of hurting people. The medical school will even include a major clinic.”

According to Falwell, students enrolled in the program will be able to fulfill their Christian and Community Service hours treating Lynchburg residents.

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