<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Friday, March 29, 2024
March 29, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

UW, WSU reach medical school deal

Both will pursue own plans to meet medical education needs

The Columbian
Published: October 3, 2014, 5:00pm

SPOKANE — Officials for the University of Washington and Washington State University have reached an agreement to go their own ways regarding WSU’s proposal to open its own medical school in Spokane.

Last month, WSU announced it would seek state approval to open its own medical school, which would focus on increasing the number of physicians practicing in underserved rural areas. The UW had opposed that proposal.

On Friday, the schools issued a joint statement saying they had reached a deal that will mutually dissolve their partnership, known by the acronym WWAMI, in which students are trained by the University of Washington’s School of Medicine to serve communities in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

Leaders from both schools agreed that the UW and WSU will independently pursue their respective proposals to meet the state’s medical education needs and physician shortage.

The two universities have signed a memorandum of understanding that acknowledges both WSU’s immediate efforts to secure accreditation for a new medical school and the UW School of Medicine’s independent pursuit of rapid expansion of its four-year WWAMI program in Spokane. Much of that work will involve money from the Legislature.

“The collective needs of our students, the Spokane community and our state are our top priority,” University of Washington President Michael K. Young said. “To this end, the UW remains fully committed to immediately expanding our medical school in Spokane, including a commitment to grow the research, industry-commercialization and medical-residency opportunities that will ensure a vibrant health care economy well into the future.”

WSU President Elson S. Floyd agreed.

“Now is the time to address the physician shortage confronting a great many Washington state communities,” Floyd said. “This memorandum of understanding provides a clear path forward for each of our universities and allows us to refocus our efforts on how best to serve the people of our state.”

The universities have agreed to work together on an agreement to fully transition the WWAMI program in Spokane to the UW.

Assuming completion of that agreement, both institutions agree not to oppose each other’s legislative initiatives to expand medical-education opportunities.

It is the goal of both universities to complete further discussions and define a transition plan before the 2015 legislative session.

WSU has complained that the state does not produce enough doctors, especially in rural areas, under the multistate WWAMI program..

The UW is the only public medical school among the five states, and it enrolls 120 Washington students each year. WSU, which had a deal with UW to train some WWAMI students, has said it will seek accreditation and funding to open a medical school that will eventually enroll 120 students per year.

Loading...