"It will provide a strong future for health care across our region - which impacts every individual and family for miles around. And it creates untold potential for economic growth and new jobs, and it increases higher education opportunities for our bright, young minds."

-Senator William Wampler

State of Virginia

“As the population ages and the supply of doctors fail to keep pace with demand, a new School of Medicine will help to alleviate the shortage. This project will greatly benefit regional health care and the economy of Upper East Tennessee.”

-Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey

State of Tennessee

“The healthcare crisis that threatens the U.S. is even more serious in a region that lags significantly behind national averages in access to health care, life expectancy, prevalence of diabetes and low birth weight. King College and its proposed medical school offer a way to reverse those statistics and provide the quality of health care our citizens deserve.

"Investing in the School of Medicine at King underscores our commitment to supporting projects in Southwest and Southside Virginia that significantly impact large numbers of our citizens."

-Delegate Terry Kilgore, 1st District

Virginia House of Delegates

Tobacco Commission Member

“A region that meets the healthcare needs of retirees will attract new residents and experience economic growth for years to come. Hundreds of good-paying, full-time jobs will be created, the demand for homes and real estate will increase, and the quality of life will improve. That’s the kind of progress we need.”

- Richard Venable, CEO

NETWORKS - Sullivan Partnership

“I applaud King College and its partners – Wellmont Health System and Holston Medical Group – for their foresight in wanting to create a healthcare destination for our region with cutting-edge, high-tech research. With plans for bioscience, biotechnology, medical instrument manufacturing and such, there is no limit or ceiling that can be placed on the economic impact of this vision.”

- Representative Jon Lundberg

Tennessee 1st District

“As an alumnus of King College, I can think of no better educational institution to train the medical specialists and other healthcare professionals needed to stem the physician shortage we’re facing across our region and nationwide. This will also provide an astronomical boost to the overall economy in our area.”

-Representative Jason Mumpower

Tennessee 3rd District

“A physician shortage in our area will reach a critical point in the very near future, and the time for action is now.  A new medical school will address this need head on while creating 500 jobs for the people of our region.  Not only will Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia benefit from the magnitude of economic impact created by this project, but the ripple effect to the surrounding communities and states will simply be immeasurable.”

-Jeff Byrd, President and General Manager

Bristol Motor Speedway

Chairman, King College Board of Trustees

“Our multi-specialty group accepts about 1,500 new patients every month, and we know firsthand about the problems in recruiting new doctors. If only half the physicians trained choose to practice here, the quality of health care will improve dramatically.”

-Jerry Miller, M.D., Founder and President

Holston Medical Group

“This is a critically important opportunity for our city and our entire region to support because of the physician shortage we’re facing. With this healthcare crisis looming, I’m proud of King College for making the commitment to ensure that healthcare in our region will, in fact, be getting the proper attention it deserves. We also can’t underestimate the tremendous economic value this initiative will have for our area for years to come.”

-Joel D. Staton, Mayor

City of Bristol, Tennessee

"It is probably the biggest economic development project I have seen in several decades.  Much hard work is ahead before the medical college would open, but the project can be accomplished.  It will likely have the largest impact of any economic development effort in my 10 years on the board - and probably of my lifetime."

-Ken Marsh

Kingsport Alderman