Newswise — PHILADELPHIA – Thomas Jefferson University announces the expansion of Jefferson Medical College with the creation of its Delaware Branch Campus. The Campus includes three participating hospitals – Christiana Care Health System, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and the Wilmington Veterans Affairs Hospital.

The expansion was approved by The Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in U.S. and Canadian medical schools.

“Together with each of the participating institutions, the expansion of Jefferson Medical College demonstrates our continued commitment to patient-centered academic excellence,” says Mark L. Tykocinski, MD, Dean, Jefferson Medical College; Senior Vice President, Thomas Jefferson University; and President, Jefferson University Physicians. “The expansion will provide Jefferson and each hospital with a platform to continue to redefine the field of medical education – training the physician work force of tomorrow in team-based, high-quality healthcare environment – with a goal of providing outstanding care for patients across a broad demographic.”

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“Christiana Care has a long-standing relationship in providing top-notch medical education to Jefferson Medical College students,” says Robert J. Laskowski, M.D., MBA, President and CEO, Christiana Care Health System. “We are very excited that the expansion of Jefferson Medical College will further enhance our role in training third- and fourth-year medical students and the next generation of physicians. Our enhanced relationship will help Christiana Care provide better care to our neighbors.”

“Since 1989, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and Thomas Jefferson University have been meeting the challenges of the changing health care environment and providing the highest quality pediatric care to the region’s children,” commented Kevin B. Churchwell, CEO, duPont Hospital for Children. “The Jefferson Medical College expansion will strengthen and assist in rounding out Delaware’s health care landscape by bringing a national medical education program to our state.”

“We are very excited about the expansion and continuing a positive and rewarding experience with Jefferson Medical College,” says Chuck Dorman, FACHE, Director of the Wilmington VA Medical Center. “We have more than 30 years of continued participation in teaching Jefferson students and residents at the Wilmington VA in support of the VA’s educational mission; it’s one more way to improve the care and treatment of American Veterans.”

Thomas Jefferson University has long partnered with Delaware health care institutions. As a founding member of the Delaware Health Sciences Alliance — (along with The University of Delaware, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and the Christiana Care Health System) — its mission is to collaborate and conduct leading-edge biomedical research aimed at improving the health of Delawareans through access to services in the state and region, and to help educate the next generation of health care professionals.-more-Earlier this year, 11 medical students from the third year class began two years of clinical rotations, most of which will be with Jefferson’s Delaware partners.

Founded in 1824, Jefferson Medical College has awarded more than 27,000 medical degrees and has more living graduates than any other medical school in the nation. It offers both undergrad medical education programs and innovative joint degree programs to more than 1,000 students each year. Jefferson Medical College is recognized for its balanced approach to medical education, and approximately one out of four to one out of five applicants throughout the U.S. apply to Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), the largest freestanding academic medical center in Philadelphia, is nationally regarded as a top university dedicated to health sciences education and research. TJU includes Jefferson Medical College, and the Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions, Population Health, and the College of Graduate Studies.