2008 Woodie Awards
Interim president discusses ISU medical school
Eryn Lowe
Issue date: 1/25/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The Idaho State Board of Education is investigating the possibility of a medical institution in Idaho. ISU Interim President Michael Gallagher sees ISU as a probable candidate among the state universities for future health education and provisions in Idaho.
Gallagher says ISU has already taken on the role as the medical university in Idaho and should continue to act in that role.
"We have already in place the classes here for the first two years of medical school," Gallagher said. "We are charged with the responsibility of health care, and we need to take that charge head on and supply health professionals."
And that supply may be running low.
Gallagher says studies have shown that Idaho is in desperate need of an additional supply of health providers.
"Idaho is ranked fifty-first per capita behind all 50 states and the territory of Puerto Rico," Gallagher said. "How are we going to have adequate healthcare in Idaho?"
Gallagher says the limited medical education does not help any.
ISU is part of an organization with Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska called the WWAMI Medical Education Program. The program is designed to give access to facilities and personnel to a limited number of students from each of these states. Idaho is allowed 26 seats in the program. Gallagher says this gives educational opportunities to 26 students but does not do enough for Idaho.
"WWAMI is great but does not sufficiently prepare the quantity of doctors to keep us out ot last place," Gallagher said.
By constricting medical education in Idaho, state health care is also being limited, Gallagher said.
"We are restricting the opportunity for students who want to become doctors and health professionals," Gallagher said.
But of course there are financial obstacles.
With state funding for higher education already plummeting, further financing for a medical school could be difficult. But Gallagher says the result of the state's economic increase would offset the actual costs.
"You'll keep money in the state. And it may help pay for itself," Gallagher said. "People will stay in Idaho for health care and then pay taxes here."
Gallagher says action on a medical school in Idaho is still far off, but further investigation has already begun. The Idaho Medical Association has requested a study to approximate the number of people needing health care in the future and the number of medical professionals needed to provide that care. Once that need is found, action will then continue in the State Board to find ways to finance an institution.
"The study will define the need currently and in the future for health care providers," Gallagher said.
Gallagher says medical care is an issue that needs continued investigation, and ISU could be part of that.
"We are a source so we need to ensure there are enough medical people in Idaho," Gallagher said. "We can't ignore this problem. It's not going away."
Gallagher says ISU has already taken on the role as the medical university in Idaho and should continue to act in that role.
"We have already in place the classes here for the first two years of medical school," Gallagher said. "We are charged with the responsibility of health care, and we need to take that charge head on and supply health professionals."
And that supply may be running low.
Gallagher says studies have shown that Idaho is in desperate need of an additional supply of health providers.
"Idaho is ranked fifty-first per capita behind all 50 states and the territory of Puerto Rico," Gallagher said. "How are we going to have adequate healthcare in Idaho?"
Gallagher says the limited medical education does not help any.
ISU is part of an organization with Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska called the WWAMI Medical Education Program. The program is designed to give access to facilities and personnel to a limited number of students from each of these states. Idaho is allowed 26 seats in the program. Gallagher says this gives educational opportunities to 26 students but does not do enough for Idaho.
"WWAMI is great but does not sufficiently prepare the quantity of doctors to keep us out ot last place," Gallagher said.
By constricting medical education in Idaho, state health care is also being limited, Gallagher said.
"We are restricting the opportunity for students who want to become doctors and health professionals," Gallagher said.
But of course there are financial obstacles.
With state funding for higher education already plummeting, further financing for a medical school could be difficult. But Gallagher says the result of the state's economic increase would offset the actual costs.
"You'll keep money in the state. And it may help pay for itself," Gallagher said. "People will stay in Idaho for health care and then pay taxes here."
Gallagher says action on a medical school in Idaho is still far off, but further investigation has already begun. The Idaho Medical Association has requested a study to approximate the number of people needing health care in the future and the number of medical professionals needed to provide that care. Once that need is found, action will then continue in the State Board to find ways to finance an institution.
"The study will define the need currently and in the future for health care providers," Gallagher said.
Gallagher says medical care is an issue that needs continued investigation, and ISU could be part of that.
"We are a source so we need to ensure there are enough medical people in Idaho," Gallagher said. "We can't ignore this problem. It's not going away."