FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sue Burness, City of Dublin public affairs officer, 614.410.4508, SBurness@dublin.oh.us

Contact: Karoline Lane, OU-HCOM director of communication, 740.593.2261, lanek@ohio.edu

It’s official: Dublin is the site of new Ohio University medical school extension campus

Aiding education and economic development efforts, City of Dublin donates surrounding property to Ohio University

(Athens, OH) – Ohio University and the City of Dublin, Ohio, last week completed real estate transactions on 60 acres, part of which becomes the site of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) central Ohio extension campus. The property also includes an area for the development of education and technology related partnerships that will support the City of Dublin's envisioned West Innovation District.

"Ohio University and its Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine hold the promise of creating jobs and promoting medical and technological development within Dublin," said City Manager Marsha Grigsby. "We are excited to see this extension campus bring new jobs and future new doctors to the region. In addition, the possibility of future, related bioscience and medical research facilities fits perfectly with our research and development corridor initiatives and City Council's goal to create a 21 century learning environment."

The property for the medical college campus, which includes 14.8 acres and three existing structures, was purchased for $11 million. The property is located at 7001-7003 Post Road.

The impetus for the development of a central Ohio medical school extension campus came from the April 2011 gift from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. Funding for the real estate purchase and planned renovations will come from the $105 million award, one of the largest in the history of higher education in Ohio and ever given to a U.S. medical school. The gift will support a number of initiatives developed during the college's 2010-2011 strategic planning process.

One of the major initiatives called for the establishment of an extension campus in central Ohio where medical students will be trained specifically to address the growing need for primary care physicians, especially in urban and underserved areas of Ohio where specialists in family medicine, general internal medicine and pediatrics are needed.

"Coupled with the Foundation's commitment to the greater central Ohio community and the Ohio University medical college, Dublin's investment becomes even more significant," said Rick Vincent, president and CEO of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. "The campus will prove to be an important asset to the community and will enhance the college's rich tradition of graduating primary care physicians, the majority of whom will remain in Ohio."

In a complimentary transaction, Dublin City Council and Ohio University signed an economic development agreement, which formalizes Dublin's conveyance of 46 additional acres surrounding the medical school extension campus. The property donated to the university is valued at $4.6 million.

"For a community in central Ohio to give 45 acres of real estate for higher education purposes is tremendous," said Roderick McDavis, president of Ohio University. "On behalf of Ohio University, I thank the city of Dublin, its city council and city manager for this extraordinary gift. This contribution will pay dividends to the health of our communities for decades to come. This is an important day in the history of Ohio University and Dublin."

University leadership is developing plans for the acreage donated by the city of Dublin. Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit indicated that the 45 acres provides a unique opportunity to align community and university priorities. "Our partnership with the city will enhance our ability to help meet the educational needs of the state while enhancing economic development goals for Dublin."

Benoit referenced an economic impact report prepared by consultant Tripp Umbach, noting that the area will experience both direct and indirect economic benefits resulting from a medical school extension campus in Dublin. When the first class graduates in 2018 and the medical school campus is fully operational, the economic impact is expected to be $26.4 million annually. The endeavor is estimated to create more than 145 jobs and generate more than $1 million in tax revenues for state and local governments.

"As we work with Dublin and other partners in the area to grow education, research and technology efforts, we anticipate additional job opportunities and increased revenue for the city and state beyond the initial estimates associated with the OU-HCOM expansion," said Benoit.

In August 2014, 50 medical students will begin their training at the site, assuming approvals by the college's accreditation agency, the American Osteopathic Association Council on Osteopathic College Accreditation, and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Each class of 50 students will complete all four years of their medical school education in central Ohio.

In April 2012, the Heritage College and OhioHealth announced that they had signed a definitive agreement that recognizes OhioHealth as the "Preeminent Education Partner" for the central Ohio extension campus. Under the agreement, OhioHealth assists the medical school expansion and the college's class size increase by providing a substantial number of clinical rotations to support OU-HCOM students. OhioHealth will also expand residency and fellowship training opportunities throughout the OhioHealth system, and develop programs to incentivize medical students to choose a primary care specialty and stay in Ohio to practice. This agreement does not affect OU-HCOM's and OhioHealth's training relationships with other institutions.

The Heritage College leadership will be working closely with the University Office of Facilities Planning & Space Management on renovations and improvements to the central Ohio location. Current tenants in the existing buildings will continue to rent space for a period of time.

-30-

The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is a leader in providing patient-centered, clinically integrated medical education, from pre-medical education to undergraduate medical education, and on through residency training, with an emphasis on primary care. Focused research and community health programs speak to the college's commitment to improving health and well-being in Ohio communities and quality of life for patients. Commercialized medical research innovations have saved patient lives worldwide and placed Ohio University first in state and fourth in the nation among higher education institutions for research return-on-investments. Visit us at http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/