WCU dedicates Charles W. Pickering Institute of Primary Care

William Carey University dedicated its new Institute of Primary Care on July 28 – a few days ahead of both its scheduled completion date and the arrival of 200 first-year medical students ready for fall orientation.

Looking out over a crowd of hundreds gathered for the ceremony, WCU President Ben Burnett said the Institute of Primary Care (IPC) is more than bricks and mortar: It’s a place where future physicians will be trained, lives will be changed, and our commitment to serving the underserved will grow deeper.

“We are deeply honored to dedicate this building to Judge Charles Pickering – a man whose life has been marked by integrity, courage, and deep commitment to faith, justice, and education,” Burnett said.

“As a longtime member of our board of trustees, he has been a steady, faithful force behind the growth of this university. Quite simply, without Judge Pickering’s leadership, we would not be standing here today. His fingerprints are all over this university, and now, his name will be part of its future.”

Underserved communities

The IPC enhances WCU College of Osteopathic Medicine’s ability to increase the number of primary care physicians in Mississippi and the Gulf South.

“The idea took shape about four years ago as we were becoming the largest medical school in the state. We watched our students go into underserved rural communities, train there, and then stay there. And hospitals were saying, we want more of that,” said Dr. Italo Subbarao, dean of the medical school.

“Just at that time, COVID challenges were making access to healthcare even harder. The legislature asked how they could make an investment that had generational benefits. We decided we wanted an institute that focused on primary care doctors. That’s who people go to first – they’re members of the community, they catch things early, they work with their patients on preventive care.”

In the end, construction of the IPC was supported by a $20 million infrastructure grant through AccelerateMS.

The 50,000-square-foot building has a large osteopathic manipulative medicine lab and an ultrasound skills lab. It includes a patient encounter center, a multi-purpose training room and a large conference center for medical gatherings. In addition to teaching student doctors, the IPC can also help practicing physicians advance their training and certifications – and partner with them on community-based solutions.

“We’re just so blessed. Only the divine hand of the Lord could make this possible,” Subbarao said.

Faithful leadership

Judge Pickering said he was surprised to learn William Carey University wanted to name the IPC after him.

“I never dreamed a building might be named for me. It was a complete surprise. I told Dr. Burnett I didn’t think I was worthy of the honor. What I’ve done was just what any board member would do – and I thank the Mississippi Legislature for appropriating the money to build the Institute of Primary Care,” Pickering said.

Pickering served on the WCU Board of Trustees for 18 years. Some of the busiest were the ones spent as part of a team working through the steps to open an osteopathic medical school – and later, seeing it double its class size and plan the IPC.

“As I think back on our journey planning a medical school, going through accreditation, and opening the William Carey University School of Osteopathic Medicine, it’s obvious to me that God indeed walked alongside us each step of the way,” Pickering said.

Phase 2 of the IPC, under construction now, will open this winter. The 20,000-square-foot addition will include two large lecture halls that can be adapted in several configurations.