UC Davis campus and School of Medicine leaders along with students, faculty and legislators on Feb. 24 broke ground on a new, 120,000-square-foot education and library building in Sacramento, which will replace older buildings on the Davis campus and serve as the school's new headquarters for medical training at all levels.

The $40 million facility -- located at the heart of the medical center campus at 45th and X Streets -- will replace outdated classrooms, nearly double the space for library services, and provide a central location where students, faculty and research partners can collaborate and be immersed in the art and science of medicine.

"This is a great day for our students, our faculty, and everyone devoted to improving medical education and the health and well-being of patients everywhere," said Larry Vanderhoef, UC Davis Chancellor. "The education center will serve as a hub that celebrates life-long learning, fosters the development of new and innovative teaching techniques, and enhances interaction and communication among students, residents, faculty, researchers, technology partners and others in the medical field."

While the school will maintain its outstanding research programs on both the Davis and medical center campuses, the new facility will consolidate training programs, enhancing a sense of community among students and faculty.

"The traditional approach of training first- and second-year students in the basic sciences on the Davis campus and then focusing remaining years on clinical rotations at the medical center is passé," said Claire Pomeroy, vice chancellor for human health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine at UC Davis. "Students want -- and need to be -- on the same campus throughout their four years of medical school training. At the medical center, it will be easier for them to take advantage of opportunities for mentoring and learning in the dynamic, clinical research and patient care environment."

The school's current buildings for education on the Davis campus -- Tupper Hall and the Medical Sciences 1 complex -- were built in the mid-1970's. While many laboratories have been renovated, the space for teaching doesn't reflect current trends in medical education.

"Medical education is becoming more integrated," said Pomeroy. "New courses focus more on small-group, interdisciplinary, active learning opportunities where students learn about basic science and immediately see how it applies to patient care from diagnosis through treatment. There's also an emphasis on developing and fostering critical thinking, problem solving and assessment skills, key competencies that will help students throughout their careers as physicians.

"With this facility we will create an environment that attracts the most qualified students and faculty, allowing us to achieve our mission of advancing the health of our community," she said.