Healthcare Directory

2021 Medical & Dental Directory | 5 THE CENTER FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA neurology and neurosurgery specialists will have a new, dedicated workspace and a more convenient location for patients and their families. The building will also offer study spaces and lockers for the residents, serving as a convenient "home base" for their time away from the brisk pace of the hospital. The fourth floor will be shelled out for additional growth as the health system's needs change over time. It all started in the fall of 2019, when an older, disused building was demolished to make room for the construction to come. Now cleared, construction will begin in January. The move-in date is set for May 2022– just in time for a new class of residents to arrive on campus. A partnership with Campbell University and funding from the State of North Carolina provided much of the seed funding. The fundraising effort kicked off in spring of 2019 with a $1 million grant from the Thomas R. and Elizabeth E. McLean Foundation. Another $1 million was voted into the total by the Foundation's own board of directors. "This strong start gives the public a nice level of confidence that their gift will be a good investment," said Jamie Powell, Foundation Gifts Officer. With so much successful fundraising during this "quiet phase," only about $1.5 million more will need to come from the community during the more public effort in 2021. The campaign will include appeals to people who have not only the capacity to support such a large endeavor, but also an affinity for health care and what this investment means. "Physicians who are connected to the program are especially excited," Powell said, "and there is buzz throughout the community about how this project will benefit the entire area. To have 300 residents, plus 50 to 60 faculty and administration positions, it's really the equivalent of a large company moving in." That means more money flowing into and around Fayetteville. The construction phase alone will pour $11.7 million into Cumberland County, and the operation of the residency program is set to add $25.2 million annually into the southeastern North Carolina region. "The economic impact is huge," Brooks said. "A residency program brings these professionals to our community for three to six years, and in that time, they become a part of the community, living here and spending money here." And at the end of that time, these new physicians will be well prepared to bring their expertise to the rural areas that need them most. Alumni who continue to work in southeastern North Carolina will contribute an estimated $18.8 million annually to the regional economy. "Studies have shown that doctors tend to begin their careers within a 50-mile radius of where they completed their residency," Brooks said. "And they are usually at an age where they are putting down roots, thinking of getting married and having children. So those few years on this campus could lead to a lifetime in this part of the state." n In a spot beside the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Treatment and CyberKnife Center, currently referred to as The Center for Medical Education and Research, a five-story building is being constructed to house Cape Fear Valley's growing residency program. The Funds Involved – And the Rewards to Come Along with the groundbreaking, Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation kicked off a fundraising campaign to assist with the cost of this $30 million project. You may know the Foundation for its more direct patient and family assistance efforts, such as providing gas cards for commuting cancer patients, comfort items for hospitalized children, or overnight accommodations for families in need. But Executive Director Sabrina Brooks says these larger projects are also an essential part of their work. "Our mission is to build awareness and philanthropic support for Cape Fear Valley Health and the work they do for patients and families," she said, "so it's important to be involved in expanding health and wellness with a project like this. The residency program adds another level of quality to the care Cape Fear Valley offers."

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