DOVER, Del. - Delaware has selected Thomas Jefferson University to help establish the state's first four-year medical school, a move state leaders say could help address long-term physician shortages and improve healthcare access across the First State.
Governor Matt Meyer and Thomas Jefferson University announced the partnership Tuesday. The school will be developed through Jefferson's Sidney Kimmel Medical College and is expected to create a pipeline for training and retaining doctors in Delaware, particularly in primary care and rural medicine, according to the University.
State officials have repeatedly pointed to Delaware's growing healthcare workforce challenges in pursuing a medical school. Delaware is one of only a few states without its own four-year medical school, a limitation leaders say makes it harder to recruit and retain physicians.
"For too long, Delaware has been a state where scientists discovered medicines and saved lives around the world, all without a medical school. And today that changes," Meyer said.
As WBOC has previously reported, workforce shortages have been identified as one of the state's most pressing healthcare concerns. Industry leaders noted Delaware is the nation's sixth-oldest state and one of its fastest-growing, increasing demand for healthcare services and medical professionals.
"We don't have enough primary care or specialty care physicians in Delaware," Meyer said. "For too long, we've watched Delaware's educated, talented young people leave for medical school and hoped they would come back. The reality is many of them never come back."
The medical school initiative has been a central component of Meyer's broader healthcare agenda. State officials say the project is designed to create an in-state pathway from medical education to residency and eventually practice in Delaware communities, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
"A person's zip code should never determine whether they can see a doctor," Meyer said. "This medical school is about training physicians here, keeping talent here and delivering better care in every corner of our state, especially in those communities that need it the most."
Jefferson already has a significant presence in Delaware through partnerships with healthcare systems and the Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research, which reserves seats for Delaware students attending medical school. Sidney Kimmel Medical College currently reserves up to 20 spots annually for Delaware residents.
Dr. Neil Hockstein, chair of the Delaware Healthcare Commission, said Delaware's geography makes it an ideal place to train future physicians.
"One of the great things about Delaware is that our state mirrors the rest of the country. We've got dense urban areas, we've got farmland, and we've got everything in between," Hockstein said. "It's a great opportunity for students to really learn how to care for people, regardless of their zip code."
The state began soliciting proposals earlier this year as part of an effort tied to Delaware's Rural Health Transformation Program funding. Four organizations submitted bids to partner with the state before officials selected Thomas Jefferson University.
Maggie Norris-Bent, with Westside Family Healthcare, said the medical school could play a key role in addressing healthcare access challenges in Kent and Sussex counties.
"We know that rural communities lack access to primary care, the first entry point into health services that make sure folks can stay healthy and we can care for their immediate needs," Norris-Bent said. "This will build a pipeline that Kent County and Sussex County have been needing and have really seen a massive gap for decades."
The announcement was also welcomed by students interested in pursuing careers in medicine. Nikash Long, a Delaware student on the pre-med track, said having a medical school in-state could encourage more future physicians to remain in Delaware.
"I thought I was going to have to leave my home state for a medical education, which makes it a lot less likely that I'm going to end up coming back here later in life," Long said. "This is a really great opportunity to settle down here, start a family, and be able to stay in Delaware."
According to state officials, the medical school could begin enrolling students as early as 2028, with an initial class of 40 students. Applications are expected to open next year, although accreditation and additional planning work remain ahead.
"Today marks a transformational moment for healthcare in Delaware," Meyer said. "The Delaware Medical School will help us grow our healthcare workforce, expand access to care, and give more Delawareans the opportunity to stay here, train here, and ultimately serve the communities that raised them."
