Washington State University leaders confirmed two things this week: they have a strategic plan for developing a medical school, and they still welcome University of Washington to host students in Spokane.
University of Washington runs the only public medical school in Washington, but this spring the state legislature gave WSU the green light to open its own. This week, WSU President Elson Floyd announced they are starting the accreditation process and will recruit students starting in summer 2016.
Floyd: “We have very specific plans in place for a Spokane based medical school. And we are really, really pleased to have the responsibility, and the obligation, of making sure that it’s of high quality, it’s affordable.”
And, he added, that it will add doctors to a state with a physician shortage. The specific plans include: starting now, search for a founding dean of the medical school; by next year, gain preliminary accreditation; and in fall 2017 start the charter class of 40 students. In 2019 the class size jumps to 80, and by 2021 to 120 students.
WSU Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown is acutely aware of University of Washington’s interests. UW hosts first year med students in Spokane through the WWAMI program.
Brown: “We are also preparing to continue to provide facilities for WWAMI students. We’ve received a letter requesting the utilization of our facilities starting next fall. And certainly our facilities here on campus are expansive enough to accommodate.”
She says they could host UW and WSU med students until 2021 before needing to build. Spokesmen for UW have voiced concerns that the legislature’s current proposed budget wouldn’t satisfy Spokane WWAMI, and the school has criticized WSU’s med school ambitions.
WSU leaders made clear this week they plan to move ahead quickly, starting with a nationwide search for a dean. The acting medical sciences dean will likely take on a new university role.
Copyright 2015 Spokane Public Radio
