Florida International University College of Medicine, South Florida's only public medical school, is transforming the future of public health and educational opportunity in the region. Created in 2006 amid pressing community health concerns and a projected critical shortage of physicians nationally, the College of Medicine is developing a curriculum that reflects an innovative, 21st century approach to health care and medical education.

The medical school will provide quality, affordable medical education and educate physicians who are culturally sensitive to South Florida's diverse demographics. It will help advance South Florida's health care dynamic by facilitating improved access to first-rate medical care among our medically underserved populations and lead an economic impact that will eventually reach more than $1 billion each year.

As adapted, the Mission and Goals of the Florida International University College of Medicine are:

To serve as a model for the next generation of medical education and to elevate the level of care available to the Florida community through:

• Educating culturally competent physicians to serve the region’s diverse population;
• Providing South Florida students greater access to medical education, admitting a student body that reflects the rich diversity of the region;
• Developing a curriculum focused on community medicine, elevating the quality of medical care available in the region; and
• Developing basic, translational and clinical research programs that will ensure state of the art care and will substantially expand the economic growth potential of the region.

Ten – Year Goals include:

• Providing an affordable , accessible College of Medicine in South Florida;
• Partnering with community hospitals and healthcare clinics;
• Maximizing an effective public/private partnership funding model;
• Developing a strong bioscience research enterprise with significant federal and private funding;
• Enhancing the quality of healthcare in South Florida by increasing the number of culturally competent, underrepresented minority physicians serving South Florida;
• Ultimately graduating up to 120 medical students each year, and assisting in the development of 500 residency positions, addressing the region’s current and anticipated physician shortages; and
• Contributing to the economic development of the region, state and nation.

The College will admit its first class in the fall of 2009.

Distinguishing characteristic:   Only public medical school in South Florida
Authorization by the State Board of Governors:   March 2006
Opening of the FIU College of Medicine:   Fall 2009
Number of students in inaugural class:   40
Number of students at full capacity:  480
Annual tuition cost:   For cost of attendance - click here
Expected annual economic impact:   More than $1 billion to the state's economy
Contribution to the state tax base:   As much as $62 million
New jobs to be created in South Florida:  More than 8,300
Affiliated Hospitals: Jackson North Medical Center, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Miami Children's Hospital, Mercy Hospital.