R.K. Mellon gifts Duquesne $2 million for new college of medicine

Duquesne University’s long-planned college of medicine received a financial boost Tuesday with a $2 million gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

University officials said the grant will help build the foundation of a new college of medicine designed to graduate primary care doctors to help alleviate the shortage of physicians in medically underserved urban and rural communities.

“The data makes clear that one of the most powerful things we can do to improve health and well-being in our disadvantaged communities — both urban and rural — is to create greater access in those communities to primary care physicians,” said Sam Reiman, director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation. “Duquesne University’s proposed new medical school is laser focused on exactly this great need, and the foundation is pleased to support their efforts.”

Citing a growing shortage of primary care physicians, Duquesne officials announced plans for the new college of osteopathic medicine two years ago.

Demolition work got underway earlier this year at the Forbes Avenue site in the city’s Uptown neighborhood where Duquesne plans to build the $60 million college of medicine. The college, now moving through the accreditation process, is expected to accept its first class of 75 students in fall 2024.

“I’d like to thank the Richard King Mellon Foundation for its generous funding of this historic initiative,” said Duquesne President Ken Gormley. “Our College of Osteopathic Medicine will be one of the most forward-looking medical schools in the country. It will train and educate physicians who will serve communities, both urban and rural, that are in dire need of primary care doctors — including those that suffer disproportionately from poverty, low employment levels and other negative health determinants. This path-breaking college of medicine will help to bring much-needed health equity and opportunity to communities in our region and throughout the country.”

At full capacity, officials said, the college of medicine will enroll 600 students.

University officials said the new 80,000-square-foot facility will be located on Forbes Avenue at the former Life’s Works building. It will include experiential and immersive learning with state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced simulation technologies, augmented reality anatomy labs, maker space and examination suites. The university also will renovate 20,000 square feet on campus to house a complementary health sciences library and a new Center for Student Wellbeing.