CentraCare Board of Directors Votes to Support St. Cloud Medical School Proposal

(KNSI) – CentraCare has officially thrown its support behind a proposal to build a medical school in St. Cloud.

The unanimous vote of its board of directors occurred Thursday. The hospital would partner with the University of Minnesota for a campus that would specifically focus on producing physicians for the rural parts of the state.

In a press release, CentraCare says that over one-third of rural doctors will retire by 2027, which has officials worried about a looming shortage in the near term. Current plans expect the medical school to open in 2025 with a class of 24 students. Each group could grow to as many as 80 pupils later on.

The system’s board of regents voted last week to go ahead with a statement of interest regarding the proposal. The document would spell out in greater detail what the intentions are for each organization.

CentraCare Board of Directors Chair Steve Laraway says, “We’re excited about the opportunity to train future medical professionals in St. Cloud to support the health of people living in our rural communities. This investment in the future will extend beyond health care to improve the economic base of our rural communities.”

___