Delaware is preparing for a major change in medical education.

The state has selected Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College to establish Delaware’s first four-year medical school, creating a new path for students to train here and stay to serve the communities across the state.

A First for Medical Education in Delaware

Governor Matt Meyer announced the partnership with Thomas Jefferson University on June 2nd, marking what the state is calling the first four-year medical school in Delaware’s history.

Delaware is currently one of only three states in the country without a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine granting institution. 

This new medical school is meant to change that by giving future physicians the chance to complete their full medical education in Delaware instead of leaving the state to earn a medical degree.

The new campus will be known as the Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College Delaware Regional Campus.

Image: Sidney Kimmel Foundation

How the Program Will Work

Sidney Kimmel Medical College will lead the Delaware Medical School Consortium, working with academic institutions and healthcare systems across the state.

According to the University of Delaware, students are expected to complete their first two years at UD using Sidney Kimmel Medical College’s curriculum and admission requirements. 

Current space on UD’s main campus will be refurbished for the program, giving students access to classrooms, labs, student services, libraries, and health and recreation facilities.

The school anticipates admitting 40 new students a year beginning in July 2028, pending the required LCME approval.

A Statewide Approach to Training Doctors

The plan is not just to open a medical school in one part of Delaware. It is designed as a statewide effort to train and retain more physicians.

Pre-clinical instruction will initially be based in New Castle County, while clinical education and training will mainly take place within healthcare systems in Kent and Sussex counties. 

That matters because the state has identified physician shortages as especially acute in those areas.

For communities in slower-growing, rural, or harder-to-serve parts of Delaware, the goal is to create a stronger pipeline of doctors who understand the state’s healthcare needs because they trained here.

Why This Matters for Healthcare Access

The state is framing this partnership as a long-term investment in Delaware’s healthcare workforce.

By creating a full medical education pathway in the state, Delaware hopes to give more students a reason to stay, train, and eventually practice here.

State health leaders also pointed to two major challenges: an aging population and ongoing healthcare workforce shortages. 

A medical schooling path available in the state will not fix those issues overnight, but it does create a more direct way to prepare future clinicians for Delaware communities.

Image: Delaware News

Focus on Primary Care and Local Needs

Delaware officials are also emphasizing primary care as part of the school’s mission.

The Department of Health and Social Services noted that the program creates an opportunity to train future clinicians with a strong focus on connected, patient-centered care from the beginning. 

The education model is expected to include clinical care and social drivers of health, helping prepare providers for the real-world challenges patients face across the state.

That is especially important in Kent and Sussex counties, where access to healthcare providers can be more difficult for many residents.

Funding and Next Steps

The medical school project is tied to Delaware’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which focuses on strengthening access to care and improving health outcomes, especially in Kent and Sussex counties.

That work is backed by a federal financial assistance award of more than $157 million through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

More details are still expected, including information on accreditation, enrollment timelines, academic programming, and community partnerships as planning continues.

Keep following the blog for more updates on major Delaware developments, local news, and community changes that could shape life across the state.

Have any questions about our blog(s), the Coastal Delaware real estate market, or local life in our beautiful beach towns? Do you think there is something we should write about? Did you see an event coming up that we should know about? Shoot us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at (302) 212-0074. We would love to hear from you!

Sources: Delaware News, University of Delaware