New $124 million UND Medical School now under construction

The new $124 million UND Medical School is now under construction. Right now it's only recognizable from the steel beams sticking out of the ground on the corner of Columbia Road and Gateway drive.

Those driving by that busy intersection and wondering what is being built, it is the new UND Medicine and Health Sciences building.

The new building is a couple blocks away from the Ralph Engelstad areana. Which will make it the second largest building on the north end of the campus. The 320,000 square-foot, four-story building is not as large as the Ralph, but it will still have a big presence in the area. Dean of the Medical School Joshua Wynne says the new facility will give more students wanting to study medicine that opportunity.

Dean of the Medical School Joshua Wynne said, "The quality of the students of the students that we get is so high, that right now we actually have to turn away qualified students, and with our new building and class size expansion we can accept more of those students."

Construction is expected to last 2 years. With the new school building opening July of 2016.

Tags: news,und,education,updates

Read more:

New $124 million UND Medical School now under construction

Medical Society in Illinois county to lead cadaver dissection lab for high school students

LEROY, ILL. What some people would see as a cadaver in a body bag in an office, a small but growing number of McLean County, Ill., doctors and educators see as an out-of-the-classroom opportunity to inspire and educate high school students interested in medicine.

When you can merge people with a skill set and kids who have a desire to learn, thats powerful, said Gary Tipsord, LeRoy schools superintendent.

McLean County Medical Society led by its secretary, Dr. Tom Pliura is sponsoring a Human Anatomy Cadaver Dissection Lab for advanced-level high school students interested in careers in medicine. Pliura an emergency medicine physician and lawyer hopes to begin after-school labs this month at his LeRoy law office.

Several area physicians want to assist at the labs. Tipsord has contacted superintendents of other McLean County school districts.

Tipsord and Pliura expect teachers and students in advanced anatomy and biology classes to be interested.

Not every kid is cut out for this, Pliura admitted in his office this week.

Labs which will cost no money but offer no credit will be limited to students who have the interest, maturity and intelligence to work on dissection.

No one else is doing this in Illinois for high school students, Pliura said.

Physician-high school student interaction often is job shadowing and thats fine, Pliura said.

But how much real benefit is that? he asked. Im trying to do something a little different.

More here:

Medical Society in Illinois county to lead cadaver dissection lab for high school students