Augusta University Medical Center

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Augusta University is a public academic health center with its main campus located in Augusta, Georgia, United States. It is one of the four public research universities in the University System of Georgia (USG). Augusta University comprises nine colleges and schools. In addition to nine colleges and schools, the university enterprise includes the 478-bed Augusta University Medical Center, the Children's Hospital of Georgia, outpatient clinics, classrooms, laboratories, residence halls, a student center, a wellness center and a medical education library. The entire complex has a full-time instructional faculty of 651, a volunteer clinical faculty of 1,795 and a staff of over 3,000, making it the second-largest employer in the region with an annual economic impact of $2 billion.The university receives over $99 million annually in total sponsored research funding. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which found all 39 Principles of Accreditation to be compliant at the school.HistoryGeorgia Health Sciences University (GHSU)Augusta State University (ASU)GHSU–ASU consolidationOn January 8, 2012, the Georgia Board of Regents unanimously approved the consolidation of Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University. Ricardo Azziz was appointed president of the new institution.The USG described the advantages and goals of the "bold move to create a new university that builds on the strength of two institutions with distinct missions", including to create a 21st-century research institution that provides high quality and comprehensive undergraduate programs and top-tier health education and research that meets regional and statewide needs; continue to support the access mission which is vital to regional needs; allow for growth of research efforts to spur economic development and facilitate knowledge transfer; offer a wide array of undergraduate programs in liberal arts and professional fields; recognize the geographic proximity of the two universities (~2 miles apart); and build on the strong community support that both enjoyed.