Next month, a group of 75 future doctors will begin four years of rigorous study and training while attending the Valley’s new medical school just east of Fresno.

But on Tuesday, the public can “fly through” the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s 90,000 square-foot building in Clovis as part of the school’s online ribbon-cutting ceremony. The virtual event will be publicly viewable on Facebook at 11 a.m. and is hosted by California Health Sciences University, the local medical school’s parent institution.

‘Historic Opening’ Celebrated

“Since we cannot gather in person for a large celebration with all of our partners, supporters, and the community, we hope you’ll enjoy the 15-minute video premiere honoring and recognizing the historic opening of the Valley’s NEW Medical School and its inaugural class of medical students joining us in July 2020,” said CHSU officials in an email invitation.

“During the video, you’ll get to experience ‘flying through’ the medical school to see our gorgeous facility with OMM (osteopathic manipulative medicine) labs, amazing classrooms, and study spaces, state-of-the-art Simulation Center, and teaching and demonstration kitchen,” the invitation said.

The event will also feature messages from CHSU leadership and medical school staff, elected officials, and other dignitaries. “We are grateful for their participation both on-site and from afar to commemorate this important milestone in our history,” the CHSU message said.

The three-story medical school building is the first to be completed on CHSU’s 70-acre campus on Alluvial Ave. adjacent to Highway 168. Ground was broken for construction of the campus in May 2018.

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Classes Begin July 27

The first class of 75 students will begin their studies at the medical school on July 27. Over the next two years, the size of each class will grow to 150 students with a total of 600 enrolled in the medical school simultaneously.

Additional buildings are planned for the site. The include a student center, library, and auditorium, CHSU officials have said. CHSU also operates a College of Pharmacy.

(Granville Homes President and CEO Darius Assemi is the publisher of GV Wire and is a member of CHSU’s Board of Trustees.)