NASHVILLE, TN — Belmont University held a ribbon cutting ceremony today to officially open its newest building, a $180 million facility that will house both the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine and one of the largest and most comprehensive simulation centers in the country. The ceremony marks the culmination of years of planning and effort, signifying a major milestone in the University’s commitment to innovative medical education.
The 198,000-square-foot building is designed to foster an interdisciplinary learning environment through each of its specialized floors, preparing future clinicians through a holistic approach.
Floor 1 features two learning theaters designed for collaborative and versatile learning, supporting full room recording and small group interactions.
Floor 2 holds two learning studios for flexible curriculum delivery, supporting individual to full class engagement, as well as the James and Lois Archer Admissions Suite for admissions and student affairs.
Floors 3 & 4 showcase the 65,000-square-foot Center for Interprofessional Engagement and Simulation which provides an immersive learning experience with advanced labs for technology, skills and assessment, alongside fully simulated hospital and apartment settings. It incorporates obstetric manikins, ceiling lifts and a comprehensive range of medical equipment, from virtual reality to vital sign monitors.
Floor 5 houses the Anatomy Suite with modern donor anatomy labs, a wet lab and a model workroom designed for hands-on learning with a focus on anatomical studies. In addition, this floor holds the print media library, a terrace overlooking Wedgewood Avenue and the building’s medical student lounge.
Floor 6 features society rooms, or Learning Community Houses, for student support networks, wellness programming and study spaces, all equipped with technology to enhance learning and community.
Throughout the building, students can utilize 35 study rooms, 216 dedicated study spaces, 270 relaxation spaces and nearly 400 lockers.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine and the opportunity it provides to expand Belmont’s impact in health care education,” said University President Dr. Greg Jones. “This is a transformational moment for Belmont and the Nashville community, and we are excited to expand our contributions to Nashville’s flourishing health care sector through the opening of this new College.”
Named in honor of health care icon, former Air Force surgeon and co-founder of HCA Healthcare Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr., the College is focused on developing physicians who embrace a whole-person approach to healing in a community of service learning.
The College and its team are dedicated to nurturing physicians who prioritize empathy, ethical leadership, comprehensive patient care, and groundbreaking research and discovery. Guided by faith, the team is committed to training leaders of tomorrow to be agents of hope in the health care system through innovative scientific research.
Rooted in academic rigor, the College emphasizes a holistic healing approach, integrating physical, mental and spiritual well-being, underpinned by a foundation of Christian ethics and a commitment to inclusiveness and collaborative health care practices. This approach positions the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine as a hub for innovation and transformative health care leadership, shaping a new generation of doctors equipped to meet evolving challenges of the health care landscape.
“We are thrilled to welcome our inaugural class this summer and look forward to shaping pioneers in medicine who will advocate for abundant life for all people,” said Dr. Anderson Spickard, dean of the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine. “Our graduates will embody technical excellence and radical compassion, ready to meet the challenges of modern health care.”
The facility extends Belmont’s health care corridor, bringing together other health care disciplines beyond medicine — including nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work and other allied health disciplines — in the Center for Interdisciplinary Engagement and Simulation, one of the most expansive in the nation. Staffed by simulation education experts and interdisciplinary faculty, the Center features the most advanced technology including virtual and augmented reality capabilities, high-fidelity manikins, clinical skills training, standardized patient and highly specialized scenarios.
Transforming curriculum from text on a page to tangible, integrated cases, the Center will elevate medical education by providing immersive, hands-on experiences that closely mirror real-world health care settings, ensuring students are thoroughly prepared for their future roles in patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine will welcome its inaugural class of 50 in July 2024 and will grow incrementally each year.
