A donation from a UF College of Medicine alumnus and his wife will kick-start the planning for a new medical education center, the college announced Wednesday.
Dr. H. James Free, who graduated from the college in 1960 and helped develop Gatorade, and his wife, Carole, donated the money.
Carole Free declined to disclose the donation value.
The money will go toward the estimated $45 million construction of the George T. Harrell, M.D., Medical Education Building.
The college will need more donations to completely fund the construction.
The H. James Free, M.D., Center for Primary Care Education and Innovation will be inside the building.
The facility will include new clinical skills centers and simulated practice areas where groups of eight to 12 students can practice hands-on techniques.
The 100,000-square-foot building is slated for completion within four years, said College of Medicine Dean Michael Good.
