Wake Forest School of Medicine and Appalachian State University Announce Collaboration

March 25, 2011

The Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSM) announces collaboration with Appalachian State University's College of Health Sciences.

The intention of this collaboration is to provide students with an opportunity to have learning experiences outside the traditional classroom environment through high-tech laboratories, clinical sites, internships, research with faculty and study abroad programs.

This represents a complimentary and synergistic relationship between the School of Medicine and the College of Health Sciences. “We each offer unique health professional training programs that together represent the full spectrum of health care," said Reamer Bushardt, Pharm.D., PA-C, professor and chair of Physician Assistant Studies at Wake Forest School of Medicine.

“This partnership will provide learning experiences from both universities and provide our graduates a unique competitive advantage. Public and private partnerships such as this are key to our college advancing our mission to enhance the health and quality of life of North Carolina citizens and to meet the health care needs of our region,” said Fred Whitt, Ph.D., founding dean of Appalachian’s College of Health Sciences.

Some of the early steps in this collaboration will be focused on educational efforts with attention to projects that will increase access to care for members of our community, said Bushardt.

WFSM currently enrolls 477 medical students, 323 graduate students, 106 PA students, 107 allied health students and 45 nurse anesthesia students.  Appalachian's new College of Health Sciences currently offers 16 majors, including; nursing, social work, communication sciences, nutrition, exercise science and health care management.

Media Relations

Chad Campbell: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587

Megan Lee: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587