ORANGE PARK — Northeast Florida's first four-year medical school opened its doors for strengthened learning and cultivation on Monday, March 23. 

After months of anticipation, Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) officially expanded its health sciences department with a brand-new campus off Wells Road. Home to the LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and the LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park, the campus will host its inaugural cohort beginning this fall.

"We do not just see what something is, we see what it can become. And we're willing to do the work to make the vision real, because what we're opening today is not just a facility," said LMU President Dr. Jason McConnell. 

Monday's grand opening ceremony was attended by many healthcare professionals and LMU staff, including College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Kimberly Carney and College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean Dr. James Toldi. Florida Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Florida Rep. Sam Garrison, who represent Clay County in the Florida Legislature, were also in attendance.

"In terms of veterinary care, that is something that I've worked on for many years in the Florida Legislature to try to expand access, drive down costs and bring professionals to that space to be able to take care of the growing number of people in Florida, the number of pets that are here," Bradley said. "That work continues. This is an incredible starting point."

Based in Tennessee, LMU was founded in 1897 and named after Abraham Lincoln. The college offers more than 30 undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields.

The Orange Park campus, located on 12 acres, will support the school's health care education initiatives, providing access to urban resources, outdoor recreation, and growing clinical and community partnerships.

With Florida being one of the fastest-growing states, McConnell said it equally creates opportunity and demand — especially when it comes to access to and quality of professionals. 

"In healthcare, the demand is significant and accelerated. The United States is facing a projected shortage of up to 124,000 physicians within the next decade.

"At the same time, veterinary medicine is experiencing sustained demand driven by population growth, increased pet ownership and continued shortage in key areas such as rural and large animal care.  This is not a future problem. It's a current reality," McConnell told the crowd. 

He said the college is a step closer to filling that need.

The campus will also represent a significant and long-term economic investment in Clay County, he added, generating millions of dollars annually from job creation, student and faculty spending, research activities and partnerships.

The school has already begun partnerships with both the Jacksonville Humane Society and Clay County Animal Services.  Last year, the college, in conjunction with Chewy Health, donated $1 million towards the county's new Animal Service Building on Sleepy Hollow Road. The shelter will serve as a mixed-use space for the veterinary students, promoting hands-on, real-world learning. 

"Our partnership means an immediate and profound enhancement of the level of medical care that our animals will receive," said Dr. Jennifer Green with Clay County Animal Services.

As of now, McConnell said there are 125 students currently enrolled in the osteopathic school, which is expected to scale to 200 through the course of the four-year program. The veterinary program, which is three years long, has 150 students.