The University System of Georgia’s Chancellor, Sonny Perdue, spoke at the pre-legislative breakfast of the Columbia County Chamber, and we’re glad he did.
He called upon the Augusta and Columbia County communities to support a proposed approximate $150 million research building to be located on the Medical College of Georgia campus to provide translational improvement to medical practices at both our MCG hospital and new Columbia County hospital. Attracting brilliant medical talent to Columbia County and Augusta benefits us through both healthcare improvements and economic benefits.
Chancellor Perdue said a new $150M research building compares to UGA Coach Kirby Smart needing “a five-star practice facility to recruit five-star players!” The chancellor also noted the CSRA is the “epicenter of healthcare” for Georgia. We note that Columbia County and Augusta significantly benefit in ways that are seen and unseen from sustaining and improving our “epicenter of healthcare.”
As legislative representatives of our community, we are excited the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session will be empowered by the chancellor of the University System of Georgia and its Board of Regents from across Georgia recommending the funding investing in translational discovery, education, and treatment of Georgians’ health. The statewide Board of Regents voted unanimously to support the required funding in its capital FY 2025-2026 budget for a state-of-the-art research facility housing physician-scientist “five-star recruits” serving all of Georgia.
Now, the Chancellor said, it’s up to the local community to do its part (philanthropy) so that we legislators can go into the Session with not just the backing of the Board of Regents but also the region. Philanthropy has become a necessary part of the Board of Regents’ large capital projects, and we are also happy to report that Don Grantham, along with Columbia County and regional supporters, including area institutions, have been gaining community backing for the building.
The community’s “skin in the game” goal is $30M, and fundraisers have more than $20M in commitments and have identified pathways to secure much of the remaining ten million dollars required. The proposed research building for MCG will contribute to the entire Georgia research ecosystem, and importantly, it will also be an economic driver for the region, from which both Columbia County and Augusta citizens will tangibly benefit.
The proposed research building is in the whole region’s best economic interest, not to mention the accretive effect the new physician-scientists and researchers will have on Columbia County’s new hospital currently coming out of the ground in Grovetown, Wellstar Columbia County Hospital, affiliated with the Medical College of Georgia.
We agree entirely with the University System of Georgia that the Medical College of Georgia needs this new proposed research building to serve Augusta, Columbia County, and the entire state of Georgia. The chancellor had it right: MCG needs space to attract that top-notch talent to our area, researchers working on cures for everything from Alzheimer’s to the effects of stroke.
But it’s about more than the cures that will jump from the labs at MCG to our hospital bedsides. When MCG recruits physician-scientists, the men and women who conduct that all-important lab research leading to discoveries, these prominent physician-scientists also provide clinical care and teach the next generation of physicians in undergraduate medical education (med students), graduate medical education (residents and fellows).
Upping the game of MCG’s research talent pool ups the game for all of Georgia by helping train, attract, and retain more and better physicians in Georgia, most of whom will remain in Georgia. To quote the Chancellor, “5-star physician-scientists win medical championships.” In our legislative tenure, a new research facility and the attendant physician-scientists living in our community might be a crowning achievement lasting for generations.
The chancellor is dedicated to improving our health sciences educational processes and addressing the terrible nursing and physician shortage Georgia now faces. We applaud the chancellor and the Board of Regents for their efforts to address pressing healthcare concerns. The community’s commitment is crucial, and we urge continued support to secure the remaining funds, demonstrating our region’s dedication to this transformative project.
This research facility represents a generational opportunity to advance healthcare, education, and economic development in Columbia County, the CSRA, and beyond. We’ve never been filled with more gratitude and optimism heading into a Session, and we have the Chancellor and the Board of Regents to thank for it. Now, let’s ensure our community does its part to get this building over the goal line.
Rep. Mark Newton, M.D.
Rep. Gary Richardson
Sen. Max Burns
