Tower Health has selected a location for construction of a 200,000 square foot building for a four-year regional campus of Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by Tower Health with Equus Capital Partners, Ltd. to build the new campus on Parcel 9 of The Knitting Mills redevelopment, which was formally known as The VF Outlets. The site, which is 0.6 miles from Reading Hospital, and selected in part for its proximity to the hospital, will be operational in time for the 2021 - 22 academic year.
For the first year, education, classroom, and lab instruction will take place temporarily in Reading Hospital's School of Health Sciences. As the project moves forward, Tower Health and Drexel officials anticipate the first group of approximately 40 medical students will arrive at Reading Hospital for the 2020 - 21 academic year. When fully operational, the campus will educate 200 students.
"This is an exciting step in Tower Health's evolution of our academic mission," said Clint Matthews, Tower Health's president and CEO. "Our affiliation with Drexel, one of the finest medical schools in the country, will help us address projected physician shortages in our region, bring improved access and services to our patients, and provide significant economic benefit to the entire Reading area."
John Fry, Drexel's president, said, "The new campus in Reading is cause for excitement, as it opens up new training opportunities for Drexel College of Medicine students and enhances Tower Health's impact throughout the region."
The zoning approval process for the new school building will begin in the near future.
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a strong, regional, integrated healthcare provider/payer system that offers leading-edge, compassionate healthcare and wellness services to a population of 2.5 million people. With approximately 14,000 team members, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia; Jennersville Hospital in West Grove; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a partnership of Tower Health and Drexel University in Philadelphia. It also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading; home healthcare services provided by Tower Health at Home; and a network of 22 urgent care facilities across the Tower Health service area. Tower Health offers a connected network of 2,200 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across more than 230 convenient locations. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.