Thomas Jefferson University will establish a four-year regional campus of Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, expanding medical education in the Lehigh Valley.

The inaugural class, 45 students, is set to begin in July 2029 and will study in more than 54,000 square feet of new medical education space at One Center Square.

The Allentown campus will mirror the Philadelphia campus in curriculum, learning objectives, assessments, and graduation requirements, with full integration into Jefferson’s residency and fellowship programs.

Officials say the expansion aims to address regional healthcare workforce needs and strengthen local pipelines for physicians who train and practice locally.

Jefferson notes a regional physician shortage and frames the project as a way to expand opportunities for local students to study and stay in the area.

The effort emphasizes building a stronger regional physician workforce to meet growing community healthcare needs.

State funding of about $2.15 million annually will support the medical school, including tuition subsidies and equipment purchases.

Local and state leaders, including Allentown officials and lawmakers, praise the project for workforce development, healthcare access, and regional economic growth.

The project received $2.5 million in state funds to subsidize tuition, research, and equipment, supporting Jefferson’s regional expansion.

Officials frame the expansion as boosting downtown vitality, public services, and economic activity through a greater physician presence and related spending.

supporters see the project as expanding access to medical care in the Lehigh Valley and stimulating regional economic activity.

University leaders, including President Susan C. Aldridge and Dean Said Ibrahim, emphasize community partnerships and addressing workforce needs as central to the project.