UC-Merced Continues To Push Medical School Plan
A proposal to create a medical school at the University of California-Merced is "steadily" gaining support from local organizations, the Merced Sun-Star reports.
Under the plan, the university would partner with medical schools at UC-Davis and UC-San Francisco in Fresno, as well as with community hospitals and clinics. The university would not build a teaching hospital, but would construct additional research and clinical facilities.
On Tuesday, about 70 Merced residents voiced support for the proposal at a meeting UC convened. Members of the Merced-Mariposa County Medical Society also said they support the plan. Last week, the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley unanimously endorsed the plan.
University officials said the details of the proposal, such as cost, curriculum and a timeline, are still unknown.
The UC Office of the President and Board of Regents must approve the proposal before it goes before the Legislature for consideration (Reilly, Merced Sun-Star, 4/12).