EDITORIAL: Plant seeds for UNLV medical school

The Las Vegas Valley has a growing population of more than 2 million, yet the only allopathic medical school in the state is 450 miles away in Reno, a city with a population of about 234,000.

The University of Nevada School of Medicine sends students to Las Vegas only for clinicals. The school, which attracts little philanthropic support and has almost no economic impact on the state, has done little to alleviate Nevada’s physician shortage. In 2011, Nevada had 200 physicians per 100,000 residents, sixth-worst among the states and well below the national average of 244 doctors per 100,000 people. And that shortage is far more acute in Las Vegas because the region is an increasingly popular retirement destination, and senior citizens are the biggest consumers of health care.

Southern Nevada needs a bigger, better health care system. We need more doctors and more medical research to attract specialists and expand the region’s economy. Yes, the valley has a private osteopathic medical school, Henderson’s Touro University, and private Roseman University is launching an allopathic (M.D. granting) medical school here as well. But the valley needs more. Tying an excellent medical school and excellent residency training to a large public university would deliver far more bang for the buck. A study by consulting firm Tripp Umbach, commissioned by UNLV’s Lincy Institute, said a new medical school in Southern Nevada would have an economic impact of $1.2 billion by 2030.

The Nevada Legislature and Gov. Brian Sandoval can move the ball forward with the Review-Journal’s 24th of 25 policy recommendations in 25 days: planting the seeds for a University of Nevada, Las Vegas medical school and the residency programs needed to support it.

The Nevada System of Higher Education wants about $27 million to get the school started. Gov. Sandoval proposed a significant first step during his State of the State speech earlier this month, asking that UNLV receive $9.3 million to move forward with a medical school. And he proposed $10 million in new state support for residency programs.

Medical school graduates are more likely to practice where they receive their residency training. Without more excellent residencies here, a medical school will simply export graduates to other states — as Reno’s school does today. Philanthropy and private-sector partners will have to be a big part of the funding puzzle.

Valley residents have to wait too long to see a doctor. The valley can’t wait much longer for a UNLV medical school.