Our Region Needs King College Medical School

Twenty years ago John Tickle had a vision to build a new $110 million medical center in Bristol. Very few of us at the time realized how much his vision would transform health care in our city, yet most of us, including our parents and children, have benefited from that extraordinary vision.  Today, King College president Dr. Greg Jordan has a bold vision to once again take health care to the next level in our region. 

Tripp-Umbach, a national leader in health care consultancy, has produced a report that substantiates the significant economic impact that the new medical school will bring to our community and region. Rather alarmingly, the report also states that our region will need an additional 6,500 physicians by 2020. That estimate alone makes the case for an additional medical school.

Twenty years from now will we, our children and grandchildren have enough doctors and nurses to take care of us? I’m comforted by the fact that Dr. Jordan has the vision and courage, like John Tickle did 20 years ago, to see the needs of the future in time to get it right.
 
There is a growing shortage of physicians and nurses in our region. Our region needs and will support an additional medical school.

Roger L. Leonard

Bristol, Tenn.