This month, The Pearl has officially opened its doors in Charlotte, N.C., marking the launch of a transformative new model in health care. Strategically uniting leading-edge medical training, academia and the most innovative names in health technology, The Pearl is designed to ignite collaboration, catalyze economic growth and drive innovative solutions for the city, region and beyond.
A Charlotte-based innovation district was created by a visionary public-private partnership led by Atrium Health, Wexford Science & Technology, LLC and Ventas. Home to the Charlotte campus of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the city’s first four-year medical school, and the exclusive North American headquarters of IRCAD, a global network of advanced surgical training facilities, The Pearl will be a global destination for medical education and research.
“We built The Pearl to unlock the next era of clinical breakthroughs by uniting the brightest minds with the most advanced technologies in modern medicine,” said Eugene A. Woods, CEO of Advocate Health, of which Atrium Health is a part. “It’s where the world’s top medical technology companies will work alongside surgeons, scientists, startups and students from Charlotte’s first four-year medical school with the singular goal of finding new treatments and cures. Simply put, it will be a place where excellence lives — and excellence is learned.”
The following are more details of the public-private partnership:
1. Establishing Charlotte’s First Four-Year Medical School & Cutting-Edge Training Hub
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Charlotte opens this summer 2025, enrolling its inaugural class of 48 students, with plans to scale to 100 per year—helping address the chronic provider shortage in the region
- Housing IRCAD North America, a world-class surgical research and training institute, and partnering with Siemens Healthineers to create hybrid human‑robot operating rooms, it will serve as a global destination for advanced surgical education
2. Fueling Innovation Through Research, Startups & Tech Collaboration
- The Pearl’s 600,000 sq ft campus includes a research tower and Connect Labs, offering ready-made lab space for biotech startups. Already ~80% leased to anchors like IRCAD, Siemens, Stryker, and others
- By co-locating academia, healthcare providers, and industry, this “Silicon Valley for health care” will accelerate breakthroughs in diagnostics, treatments, and AI-driven solutions
3. Driving Inclusive Economic Growth & Community Health Equity
- Over 15 years, The Pearl will generate 5,500 on-site jobs (30–40 % not requiring a college degree) and 11,500 jobs regionally, stimulating a vibrant local health economy
- It includes affordable housing, retail, community spaces, a STEM lab for local youth, and is anchored in culturally respectful design—such as the “Purposeful Walk” and art installments honoring the former Brooklyn neighborhood—ensuring community engagement and equity
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