Ground broken for multi-Institutional "Med School" October 23

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Evansville Multi-Institutional Academic Health Science and Research Campus was held October 23, at the medical campus building site located in downtown Evansville on Walnut Street at S.E. 6th Street.

Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke presided over the ceremony. Special guests included Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie and University of Southern Indiana President Linda L. M. Bennett. Mary Kessler, dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences at the University of Evansville, represented University of Evansville President Thomas Kazee.

"USI owes its very existence to the vision five decades ago of business and political leaders here in Evansville who saw the need for public higher education in our region," said Bennett. "The USI community is proud to join with Indiana University and University of Evansville to continue its role as a key contributor to the education of healthcare professionals in this community and beyond. Looking to the future, the importance of our gathering here today extends beyond the bricks and mortar of this project. It's in the faces of future medical professionals, and in the quality of care we can all anticipate. Collaboration on deepening medical education will strengthen our entire region."

McRobbie also referenced the long-standing partnership between IU School of Medicine and USI. "The new multi-institutional partnership has its roots in the success, over many years, of our partnership with USI, and indeed, were it not for that partnership, the occasion we celebrate today would not have been possible," he said.

The project is projected to be completed in 2017.