The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) has offered $4.65 million to purchase a property in Vero Beach that could become the site of a new medical school campus.

The proposed acquisition includes approximately five acres and a 43,770-square-foot, three-story building at 1110 35th Lane. Located behind Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, the property is owned by the Indian River County Hospital District and formerly housed the Visiting Nurse Association.

VCOM has leased the site since October 2024 while exploring plans for a four-year medical school campus in the area. The school envisions adding classrooms, student and resident on-call areas, and a modern medical simulation laboratory. Because the building dates to 1987 and needs substantial work, VCOM could ultimately determine that replacing it is more economical than completing a major renovation.

The site’s proximity to the hospital would allow medical students and residents to train alongside Cleveland Clinic physicians. VCOM has sent third- and fourth-year students to Vero Beach for clinical rotations for roughly two decades, but those students complete their classroom instruction at the school’s accredited campuses outside Florida.

Under VCOM’s existing lease, the college agreed to make $5 million in improvements to the property in place of rent, with the investment divided into annual $1 million installments. Those improvements were delayed as VCOM pursued legislative and accreditation-related approvals needed to advance its Florida plans. Hospital District trustees subsequently asked the school to submit a purchase offer.

VCOM still needs state lawmakers to include the institution among the schools authorized to operate a postgraduate medical residency program in Florida. School officials believe ownership of a permanent campus could help demonstrate its commitment to the state as it pursues that designation.

Cleveland Clinic Florida holds a right of first refusal on the property under its long-term lease for the hospital campus. It has until Aug. 1 to decide whether to purchase the site under the same terms offered by VCOM. However, Cleveland Clinic has voiced support for expanding medical education and residency opportunities at Indian River Hospital.

VCOM operates campuses in Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama and Louisiana. Its mission emphasizes preparing primary care physicians to serve rural and medically underserved communities. Local officials hope a Vero Beach campus and residency program would encourage more physicians to establish practices in Indian River County after completing their training.

Source: Vero News