Second Ward’s transition to a medical innovation center

ATRIUM HEALTH

Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s new Charlotte campus is the focal point of The Pearl medical district in Second Ward. The medical school is the first in city history and will admit its first students next month.

The Pearl is open for innovation.

The medical training and health care innovation district in Second Ward officially debuted on June 2, which marked  completion of the first of three phases  that encompass more than 700,000 square feet of space. At the core is Charlotte’s first four-year medical school, a collaboration between Atrium Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine as well as the North American headquarters of IRCAD, a worldwide network of advanced surgical training facilities. 

“We built The Pearl to unlock the next era of clinical breakthroughs by uniting the brightest minds with the most advanced technologies in modern medicine,” said Gene Woods, CEO of Advocate Health, Atrium Health’s parent company. “It’s where the world’s top medical technology companies will work alongside surgeons, scientists, startups and students from Charlotte’s first four-year medical school with the singular goal of finding new treatments and cures.”

The Pearl, located in the Brooklyn community where thousands of Black people were displaced by government-funded urban renewal programs in the 1960s and ‘70s, was developed by Wexford Science & Technology. The district is projected to generate more than 11,500 jobs – 5,500 of them on-site – across the region over the next 15 years.   

“This innovation district is a powerful symbol of Charlotte’s commitment to creating opportunities for everyone who calls this city home,” Mayor Vi Lyles said. “Not only does it honor our past by recognizing the rich history of Brooklyn, but it also looks to create space for inclusive growth.”  

The medical school, which will admit its first class of medical students next month, is the district’s academic core. The school’s enrollment is expected to increase to 100 students per class over the next five years.    

The curriculum is based on integrated biomedical sciences, which uses weekly clinical cases as the impetus for students to learn foundational science and evaluate possible diagnoses, in addition to considering outside factors. 

“Complete with a state-of-the-art simulation center, we’re reimagining education at Wake Forest University School of Medicine for the next generation of medical professionals,” said Dr. Julie Freischlag, Advocate Health’s chief academic officer and CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. “By integrating traditional learning with real-world experience and community engagement, The Pearl fosters an environment where learning extends far beyond the classroom.”  

IRCAD’s North America headquarters includes a surgical training curriculum with techniques in cardiovascular, neuro and orthopedic surgeries. The programs are scheduled to start in September and expected to draw medical professionals from around the world.  

The Pearl includes a commitment to developing medical professionals from historically underserved communities.

Atrium Health is partnering with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for an on-site lab program to give middle school students access to careers in health care.   

“This is an important milestone for our entire community,” Mecklenburg County commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell said. “This investment has the potential to foster greater opportunities for our residents, scholars and workforce in a way that honors this community’s rich history, while also paving the way for a brighter future.”

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