Named after healthcare icon Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr, co-founder of HCA Healthcare, the new six-story College of Medicine building is oriented near existing nursing, pharmacy and health science buildings. The new facility extends the campus health and wellness corridor, offering an inter-professional educational experience for the fast-growing university. Tapping into ESa’s 60- plus years of designing award-winning healthcare facilities, the design team leveraged ESa’s healthcare and higher education design experience.
The new facility features the Center for Interprofessional Engagement & Simulation, spanning two dedicated floors and designed to educate students in an immersive, interprofessional clinical simulation environment. The center supports two primary modes of learning: skills‑based training and clinical team learning. Specialized training spaces include skills, assessment, and assisted daily living labs; a suite of patient rooms; inpatient and community pharmacies; and a standardized patient suite. These areas are enhanced by dedicated virtual and augmented reality labs as well as debriefing spaces. The Center for Interprofessional Engagement & Simulation is the first simulation center in Tennessee to be accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
The first two floors of the building are public facing and campus focused. Large lecture spaces and learning studios support case-based learning for the medical students with flexibility to adapt for the future. A café, media center, study rooms and society houses provides study and community spaces. Reflecting the established campus architectural context and positioned near arts and wellness programs, the new building is designed to support Belmont’s whole-person approach to medical education.
Photos: ©Jeremiah Hull
