UNLV’s vision for medical school moving closer to reality

It’s been a vision of UNLV leaders for years: A widely supported medical school educating the region’s future doctors and bearing the university’s name.

Though the dream hasn’t been fully realized, it is nearly reality, emphasizes Dr. Barbara Atkinson, dean of the burgeoning UNLV School of Medicine.

“We’re ahead of where we thought we would be,” Atkinson said. “I never thought we’d be this far ahead at this point.”

Exactly a year from its anticipated debut date of July 17, 2017, the medical school is moving forward, now hoping to successfully clear one of the last major hurdles on its path to opening.

ACCREDITATION

A team representing an accreditation committee will conduct an extensive series of nearly 20 meetings Sunday through Wednesday before compiling a report that will be passed on to the committee.

The group, which will assess factors including the institution’s faculty, curriculum and facilities, will meet with dozens of UNLV and medical school staff and administrators, representatives of community organizations, and individuals from affiliated institutions.

Atkinson said the committee is expected to consider the report as well as documents provided by UNLV and make a decision on the school’s preliminary accreditation request between Oct. 17 and 19.

If the medical school is awarded preliminary accreditation, it can begin recruiting its first class of students and would become the first accredited M.D.-granting, or allopathic, program based in Southern Nevada.

Atkinson, hired in May 2014, about three months before the establishment of the medical school, marvels at how quickly things have moved along. “There was really nothing when I came. There was an idea,” she said.

At this time last year, the school had eight staffers. Now it has about 30, and that number is expected to more than double by next July.

That’s not accounting for about 120 faculty members who are expected to transition from the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine to the UNLV School of Medicine as the Reno school shifts its focus to Northern Nevada.

“Las Vegas is a big draw to the kind of people who I’m trying to recruit for this. People who want to do something new,” Atkinson said.

The school’s temporary location at the university’s Shadow Lane campus, also home to UNLV’s dental school, is roughly 24,000 square feet and should be ready within about a month, she said.

A NEW BUILDING

UNLV has also commissioned a conceptual design and renderings for a permanent building across from Valley Hospital Medical Center in the Las Vegas Medical District, and those plans should be complete by September.

Medical school leaders are seeking a $100 million donation to fund the building.

The medical school also is seeking $13 million in state funding for the next biennium on top of the $19.5 million per year base that’s already been established.

It has raised about $19.8 million in private funds but planning a private fundraising campaign for the new building once designs are complete.

Nevada System of Higher Education Regent Mark Doubrava, who is a doctor, emphasized the school’s contribution to the local economy is expected to more than offset the cost.

A study commissioned in May 2013 by the Lincy Institute found the school would provide a $1.2 billion economic impact and 8,000 jobs by 2030.

“I think the creation of a public allopathic medical school really can help elevate health care in the region and the economy,” Doubrava said.

University Medical Center CEO Mason VanHouweling said the placement of the UNLV school in the heart of the medical district will bring a new look and feel to the area.

He added that UMC is excited to try to develop its own facilities to help shape the future of the area and looks forward to furthering its partnership with the UNLV school.

“There’s a lot of passion from our community, and this has been a vision for many, many years from those before us,” he said.

In a statement Friday, UNLV President Len Jessup said the progress made by the School of Medicine underscores the community’s dedication to the effort.

University officials have stressed the idea of community in the medical school’s establishment and curriculum.

“There is no greater example for UNLV to demonstrate its community impact than to educate future physicians and specialists who will improve access to high-quality health care in the Southern Nevada region, including underserved and diverse populations,” Jessup said.

Contact Pashtana Usufzy at pusufzy@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4563. Follow @pashtana_u on Twitter