Friday, Washington State University leaders could approve one of the biggest educational ventures the school has seen in decades. A new report shows WSU is ready for a full-fledged medical school in Spokane.
Consultants from MGT of America, contracted by WSU, gave this report to the school’s board of regents: WSU is well positioned to develop an accredited medical school in the near future. 2015 in fact. The group says WSU could seek accreditation in Fall 2015, and have its charter class in 2017. Ray Thompson led the project.
Thompson: “There is a real mal-distribution of physicians across the state. There are about 17 counties in the state that have less than ten physicians per 10,000 population. The average number or the United States in that is about 23 per 10,000.”
Thompson said by opening a medical school in Spokane, WSU would help fill the gap of physicians in rural and eastern Washington. The feasibility study says the initial investment from the state would need to be about three-million dollars a year, with no capital expenditure.
Meanwhile, two classes of medical students are taking classes in Spokane, through the University of Washington’s school of medicine.
WSU’s board will vote Friday morning on whether to start its own medical school.
Copyright 2014 Spokane Public Radio
