Medical school in Merced moves closer

MERCED
May 14, 2008 12:55pm

The University of California Regents’ Committee on Educational Policy and Committee on Health Services today unanimously authorized UC Merced to proceed with the next phase of planning for a school of medicine.

UC Merced says it will begin immediately to establish an office that will encompass all medical school planning efforts. The next phase of planning for the campus involves developing curriculum, planning for the infrastructure, and seeking faculty review and approval of the curriculum and the new school. UC Merced’s aim is to submit a full proposal and business plan by the end of 2009.

"This is an exciting day for UC Merced, the San Joaquin Valley and California,” says Chancellor Steve Kang. “The school is necessary to train physicians to meet the critical need for doctors in the state and medically underserved Valley.”

Current plans call for the enrollment of the first class of 32 students in 2013 but factors such as the approval process, finding the money for the school and hiring managers will affect the timeline, the university notes.

At maturity, the proposed UC Merced School of Medicine is envisioned to have a total enrollment of 384 medical students and approximately 70 graduate students.

“The Valley is the epicenter of California’s healthcare shortage. Establishing a medical school at UC Merced is the single most important thing that we can do to address the chronic physician shortage across the San Joaquin Valley,” says U.S. Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced.

Based on the preliminary proposal, in 2008-09, projected costs associated with planning the medical school are estimated to be approximately $2 million with funding provided by a gift from United Health Foundation. During 2009-2011, the campus estimates costs to be approximately $7 million, of which $2 million also is supported by the United Health gift. Annual increments will be needed to develop implementation plans and recruit the charter faculty during 2011 through 2013. At its planned opening in 2013, the new School of Medicine is anticipated to have an operating budget of $11 million to $16 million.

At full enrollment and build out, annual operating costs associated with the medical school are estimated to be approximately $81 million to $86 million (in 2007-2008 dollars). Funding would be provided by a combination of state funds and educational fees, professional school fees, clinic revenue, contracts, grants and gifts and endowments. Funds are also needed for buildings and infrastructure.

“Today’s decision by the UC Board of Regents is going to set our Valley on the right path to curb the physician shortage we are experiencing. I applaud their decision, and am looking forward to the first medical school students to set foot on the UC Merced campus,” says U.S. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.