Multi-Million Dollar Medical Facility Coming to Our Region

Another project is heading to Downtown Evansville with thousands of healthcare jobs behind it. The Indiana University Medical Center on USI's Campus is getting bigger, officials announce plans to build an extension of the program. Many say the 35 million dollar facility will keep med students here at home who often head to bigger cities to practice. Mallory Williams is an aspiring plastic surgeon and burn specialist, she attends I-U's School of Medicine at USI campus. But Williams says medical opportunities in the tri-state for students are limited, as many of her classmates often move to another city. "I know there were several people in the class ahead of me that were actually from the Evansville area and wanted to stay down here and actually couldn't and they had to go to Indy so they weren't really happy about that" Williams says. Now, her school is expanding, officials are working to build a health science education and research campus in Downtown Evansville. Mayor Lloyd Winnecke says, "The reality is that we're starting to face a doctor shortage and this is one of the best tools that we can do to utilize a community to help build the medical profession." St. Mary's, Jasper Memorial, OMHS and other organizations are partnering together to execute this plan. Williams tells us "I was super excited to find out that I can stay here for third and fourth year because I am from Southern Indiana." Students will soon be able to do family practice residencies in the new building, which can currently only be done at Deaconess Family Medicine. Winnecke believes "Once they have their residency in Evansville, they'll stay connected in the community and stay here, that's the idea to build up a supply of doctors and other healthcare professional for years to come." Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellsperman says it'll also develop a larger tri-state healthcare workforce, "That allows more talented young people to come here but as our healthcare system and region is stronger economically it attracts more youthful talent to the region." "The community is so supportive that they offer scholarships so it lessens the burden of having to pay to be a doctor" Williams adds. For this future doctor, you may see her at an Evansville office near you. A specific location for the new medical center is expected to be finalized in October. Funding will have to go through the 2015 legislature, and the facility is expected to be up and running by 2016.