Golden LEAF

When the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine was first announced in 2023, it was clear the transformative effort was going to change the future of healthcare in the region. With the help of community partners, like the Golden LEAF Foundation, the dream is inching closer than ever to reality.

Golden LEAF, established in 1999 to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities, announced in August that it would provide funding of $8 million to help equip the new school of medicine. The funding will be an important step towards the goal of welcoming the first cohort of students in the summer of 2026, pending approval by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges).

“This School of Medicine project will have generational impacts through the creation of high-quality jobs while addressing the critical shortage of medical professionals in Southeastern North Carolina,” said Golden LEAF President and Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton (pictured here).

According to Hamilton, one of the key reasons the Golden LEAF Foundation awarded funding to the Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine (SOM) was the workforce projections in the region.

The new School of Medicine is projected to create more than 250 new jobs and graduate more than 100 doctors each year. Statistically, 67% of physicians who complete both medical school and residency in an area stay in that area for practice – a positive outlook for the region.

“It’s a good project for Golden LEAF because of the job outcomes,” Hamilton added. “There are a number of tremendous jobs that will be created. Not only the physicians themselves, but also the nurses, support staff, and administrative professionals. It will have a ripple effect on Eastern North Carolina and some of the most economically distressed communities within our state.”

The Golden LEAF Foundation is one example of many using their treasures to build up the local community. Various donors from across the region – Methodist University graduates, friends of MU, friends of Cape Fear Valley Health, other agencies, organizations, and more – have displayed their loyalty by contributing financially to the project.

“This project can help transform this regional economy,” said Hamilton. “I’m sure alumni can also find the value in making an impact with their funding.”

To read the full release about Golden LEAF providing funding – and other SOM news – please visit: the School of Medicine news page.