By Hallie Dean | Published 2 hours ago

East Carolina Universitys Brody School of Medicine isnt likely to close in the next five years as ECUs chancellor remarked in early February butfinancial hardships remain a problem for the school as budget cuts pile up.

The school is one of two public medical schools in North Carolina, along with UNC School of Medicine. Like public universities, a significant portion of both schools funding comes from the state, and state support has continuously dropped since the recession impacting ECUs school more due to its smaller size.

Brody School of Medicines revenues were $267 million in 2014, compared to UNC School of Medicines $1.1 billion.

But ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard clarified in a Feb. 10 statement that the medical school wouldnt be closing.

Ballard said the state paid for 53 percent of the schools budget in 1990 compared to just 21 percent today. Last year, the school saw $14 million in cuts to its state support.

Chapel Hill hasnt escaped cutbacks either.

When we move state support, we either have to cut programs or find new sources of support, said Karen McCall, spokeswoman for UNC School of Medicine. During the years when the cuts are made those transitions are very difficult.

Despite the cuts, Paul Cunningham, dean of the Brody School of Medicine, said ECU has not allowed them to become a setback.

We have not had to reduce admissions, and we have been very careful to shelter the Brody School academic experience for our students, Cunningham said.

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ECUs medical school battles budget cuts