UC-Riverside Med School Moving Forward Despite Budgetary Concerns
On Tuesday, the California Postsecondary Education Commission stood behind UC-Riverside's plans to develop a medical school, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports (Miller, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 9/23).
The UC Board of Regents approved the development of the school in July despite a letter from the commission urging that the project be delayed.
Commission members supported the development of the medical school because of the doctor shortage, but were concerned about the project's impact on the state budget (California Healthline, 9/23).
UC-Riverside Chancellor Timothy White urged the panel to consider moving forward with the school, noting the doctor shortage affecting inland Southern California. The area has 114 physicians per 100,000 residents, about one-half of the statewide average, he said.
UC-Riverside officials will seek donations to help pay for the school, but the first phase of development also relies on $23 million in expected state funds (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 9/23). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.