Gift supports medical education center

VCU officials and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced in April 2011 a $25 million donation to the School of Medicine by James and Frances McGlothlin, one of the largest in the university’s history, and one that will help support construction of the school’s new medical education building.

The McGlothlins made the donation in recognition of Harold Young, M.D., professor, founding chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and director of the Harold F. Young Neurosurgical Center at the VCU Medical Center. And, for their continued support of the School of Medicine, officials also announced that the medical education building, slated to open in spring 2013, will be named the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center.

The 12-story, 200,000-square-foot building will bring together faculty, medical students, residents and practicing physicians in a state-of-the-art training hub designed to support the most significant curriculum innovation across the spectrum of medical education the school has made in the past three decades. The $158.6 million building also will enable the school to accommodate a larger class size, up from 200 to 250, increasing the total medical student body to 1,000, which officials said they hope can help address local, state and national physician shortages.