May 19, 2025, 6:32pm MDT
Less than ten months after the first presidency of the Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christ, Brigham Young University, which announced plans to build a medical school at flagship university, has announced the facility’s future site.
The BYU School of Medicine will be built on the west side of the university’s campus in Provo, Utah, on the grounds of the old Provo High School building near Intermountain Health’s Utah Valley Hospital, according to a BYU news release on Monday, May 19th.
BYU’s president, C. Shane Reese, said in a news release Monday that BYU School of Medicine has been attracting great interest since its announcement last year. “We are grateful for the enthusiasm and support from people and organizations around the world for BYU medical school,” he said.
The former Provo High School facility along University Avenue was purchased by Brigham Young University in 2016 and leased to the Provo School District until the completion of a new high school campus in West Provo.
Since 2022, the building has been compatible with BYU Art News until the new Art Building is completed. The news release points out that planning and construction of the BYU School of Medicine building will not hinder the operation of CFAC students, faculty and staff.
The Harris Fine Arts Centre, which previously housed the BYU School of Music and other visual, performing arts and communication programs, was demolished in early 2023. BYU’s new music building will be dedicated to April 16th, with the new art building expected to be completed later this year or early next year.
Details of BYU School of Medicine
In a July 2024 announcement, the first president explained that medical schools will focus on education, training and research in areas of strategic importance to the church, such as international health issues and the Church’s global humanitarian efforts.
On September 4, 2024, President Reese explained in a letter posted to BYU News that the new medical school would offer a medical degree or MDS.
He also explained that the new building will address instructional and administrative needs in medical school classrooms and will provide clinical training at multiple off-site hospital locations.
“Jesus Christ healed illness and served those in need. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we believe that Beau’s medical school is another way to lift up God’s children,” President Reese said.
Less than a month later, the university announced it would appoint Dr. Mark J. Ott as the first dean of the new medical school.
Otto, a surgical oncologist, “has a deep commitment to BYU’s spiritual mission and has lived a life of service and quiet devotion to Jesus Christ, the true master healer,” President Reese said.
The following day, on October 11, 2024, BYU announced the appointment of Dustin Matsumoto, Vice President of Corporate Development at Inter Mountain Health, as managing director of BYU’s medical school planning.
In a news release Monday, Ott said, “Many deeply committed people are moving forward with this work, directed by the vision presented by the first presidency of the Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christ.”
