Forum to discuss benefits of ‘academic medical center’

Local officials, national experts will talk about medical school model in EVMS online event

NORFOLK — Eastern Virginia Medical School will host an online event centered on the potential benefits of an academic medical center for the community Wednesday evening.

The forum, “What’s in it for Hampton Roads? The Benefits of a Collaborative Academic Medical Center,” will bring together local officials and national experts to discuss the medical school model, one they say could attract more public and clinical resources to the Norfolk-based school.

EVMS officials say such a restructuring, which would involve fully integrating a hospital and school, could have a substantial economic impact on the region. It also could mean more patient access to new medical treatments and research, they say.

Panelists will include representatives from EVMS, Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University; the former director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Elias Zerhouni; and the president of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Victor Dzau.

The event follows recent tension concerning the future of EVMS, whose leaders think they were kept in the dark as Sentara Healthcare,

its private hospital system partner, and other powerful interests pushed to merge the medical school into Old Dominion.

EVMS resisted the idea of losing its independence and potentially its doctors’ ability to provide community health for uninsured or underinsured residents.

Following a consultant’s study on the issue, Old Dominion, with Norfolk State, is moving forward with a proposal to start a public health school. The forum is the second in a series the school is leading on regional health care needs. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The public can participate at evms.edu/CommunityForum.