History of the Brody School of Medicine

historical photo of interim facilities for the school of medicine

1965

North Carolina General Assembly authorizes East Carolina College to establish a School of Medicine.

1967

East Carolina University awarded university status by the state legislature.

1969

General Assembly appropriates addition planning and development funds for the medical school. Core faculty and administrative personnel were also recruited to complete the first stage of development of the school.

1971

Upon the recommendation of Governor Robert W. Scott and the State Board of Higher Education, the General Assembly appropriates operating funds to allow the enrollment of the first students into a one-year program.

historical photo of Brody students

1972

The first 20 students are enrolled in the East Carolina University School of Medicine. These students, all North Carolinians, successfully completed the one-year program at ECU and transferred to the sophomore class of the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

1975

Upon recommendation of the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina system, the General Assembly appropriates $43 million for initial construction of facilities and implementation of a new four-year medical school at East Carolina University.

1977

The East Carolina University School of Medicine receives provisional accreditation and authorization to admit its charter class of 28 students in the fall of that year. In August, 28 four-year students begin. The residency program in family medicine earns accreditation.

1981 graduating class

1978

Residency programs accredited for psychiatric medicine, medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.

1979

Groundbreaking ceremony held March 30 for the new Medical Sciences Building.

Programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in anatomy and cell biology, biochemistry, microbiology and immunology, pharmacology, and physiology are initiated.

1981

The School of Medicine receives full accreditation.

The charter class graduates, including Natalear Collins and Brenda Klutz, the School of Medicine’s first African-American graduates.

Six men in suits stand at the entrance of a new building, cutting a ribbon during a dedication ceremony for the Brody Medical Sciences Building

1982

Emergency medicine residency program accredited.

1982

Ribbon cutting ceremony held October 29 for the newly constructed Brody Medical Sciences Building.

1983

The first Doctor of Philosophy degree conferred by East Carolina University awarded through the medical school.

1985

Residency programs accredited for anatomic and clinical pathology.

1987

Doctoral program in pathology added.

Three clinicians in lab coats and gloves practice a medical procedure on a patient simulator in a clinical training room, using monitoring equipment and a manual resuscitation bag.

1999

Renamed the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, in recognition of the continuous support of the Brody family, former owners of the Brody’s retail chain.

2000

On May 3, a Wednesday, Dr. Randolph Chitwood, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Brody, performs the first robotic heart valve surgery in North America.

2016

Brody is one of seven schools globally to receive a 2016 Aspire to Excellence Award, from the Association for Medical Education in Europe. Brody was honored in the social accountability category for emphasizing training in primary care.

2017

The Brody School of Medicine Student National Medical Association chapter received regional recognition for extensive community service. The group supports minority medical students and underserved communities

2022

ECU Health is created following integration between ECU and the former Vidant Health. As ECU Health, the two organizations more effectively and efficiently address current issues facing the regionsuch as health disparities and care delivery obstacleswhile also better anticipating future health care and educational needs.