(KNSI) — CentraCare Health is releasing more details on a proposed medical school in St. Cloud.
CentraCare and the University of Minnesota met last week to discuss putting a school together to serve rural hospitals and clinics struggling to get medical workers. CentraCare President and CEO Dr. Ken Holmen says the school would be a partnership between the healthcare system and the university.
CentraCare and the university have put together a family medicine residency program at St. Cloud Hospital. Many medical workers coming out of the program have stayed in rural areas.
Holmen says the plans for a school have been in the works for years. “This has been an objective of mine for several years now because, I think it’s the next thing that Centracare needs to do to really cement its role and its accountability for a great health care for our residents.”
He says the next step is to take a broad concept to the U of M Board of Regents in February. The two sides will then have about a year to develop a more detailed plan that would include the facility’s educational needs, space needs, location, and find places for students to live. Holmen says the medical school is about CentraCare keeping its commitment to rural Minnesota. “Our forefathers created the towns and invested in hospitals to create our rural way of life. We want to continue that investment for decades to come. And so, not only is it about a medical school, not only is it about educating other health care professionals, but it’s about creating a healthy, sustainable economy for the future.”
The school would have about 20 students per year with a goal of having its first students in 2025. The school would also serve as a catalyst for other healthcare sectors to move to the area.
Holmen says they will be reaching out for help to pay for the project. “This is not cheap. We will embark on a campaign for Centracare to invest along with other partners. That’s philanthropy, businesses, state and federal resources. But I suspect that over some period of time this will be well in excess of $100 million of investment.”
He says that investment will need to come over several years.
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