Opinion Pieces Stump for UC-Riverside Medical School

A Palm Springs Desert Sun editorial and an opinion piece by G. Richard Olds -- founding dean of the medical school at UC-Riverside -- stress the importance of moving forward with plans to open a new medical school at UC-Riverside despite the state's budget woes. The Desert Sun notes that "a national body decided not to proceed with the medical school's preliminary accreditation because of concerns that it might not survive the state budget crisis." The editorial "strongly urges the Liaison Committee on Medical Education to reverse its decision and move forward with accreditation," adding that the school "would fill a critical need in Southern California -- particularly in the Coachella Valley, which has far too few primary care physicians." Meanwhile, Olds argues, "It is a simple matter of justice in terms of providing much-needed health care to the people of Inland Southern California."

• "Editorial: Amid Urgent Call for Doctors, Denial of Accreditation an Unfair Blow to UC Riverside School of Medicine" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 6/18).
• "Dean: UCR School of Medicine Will Be Good for the Coachella Valley's Health and Economy" (Olds, Palm Springs Desert Sun, 6/18).