WSU medical school may be named for Floyd

Support is growing to name the new Washington State University medical school for Elson Floyd, the school president who died last weekend of complications from colon cancer.

State Sen. Michael Baumgartner said he will introduce a bill this week to name the new medical school for Floyd.

Baumgartner, a Republican from Spokane, said Floyd was instrumental in pushing the proposal through the Legislature, making a compelling case that the state needed a second public medical school.

Washington State students have already launched a Facebook campaign to name the Spokane-based medical school for Floyd, Baumgartner noted.

Meanwhile, Washington State University on Tuesday announced the creation of the Dr. Elson S. Floyd Medical Education Founders Fund.

Established in accordance with the Floyd family’s wishes, the new fund will support the accreditation and operation of the new College of Medicine.