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- BYU's new medical school will be built on the former Provo High School site.
- The location is currently being used by the Fine Arts and Communications School, which will continue its use while the new arts building is completed.
- BYU said plans for its medical school, which was announced last summer, are moving forward at an "ever increasing pace."
PROVO — Brigham Young University West Campus, the site of the former Provo High School, is where BYU's School of Medicine will be built, the university announced Monday.
This location is near Utah Valley Hospital. The announcement said a relationship between BYU and Intermountain Health will provide important training for the new school's students and relationships with the University of Utah and other health care organizations.
BYU President C. Shane Reese said the medical school will provide "a high-quality, spiritually based program that reinforces the mission of BYU and the church."
"We appreciate the enthusiasm and support for the BYU School of Medicine from people and organizations across the world," he said.
BYU's College of Fine Arts and Communications is currently using the former Provo High School buildings, and will continue. At the same time, the new BYU Arts Building is completed on the site of the former Harris Fine Arts Center. The announcement said the planning and construction of the medical school will not interfere with these students.
Reese said Dr. Mark J. Ott, the dean of BYU's medical school, and his team are developing a curriculum and exploring "innovative approaches" that could reduce the time to graduate and the cost for future students.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans for the new school almost a year ago, emphasizing that it would train doctors to support the church's humanitarian efforts around the world, including research addressing international health issues.
Ott said, "Many deeply committed people are moving this work forward, directed by the vision put forward by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
Monday's announcement said plans for the medical school are moving forward "at an ever-increasing pace."
The old Provo High School property, located just west of BYU, was purchased by the university in 2016 for $25 million.
