The need for a four-year medical school is critical; the nation is short more than 150,000 thousand physicians. Eastern and Central Washington have the lowest rates of physicians in the country. Now is the right time to start producing more physicians. The increase in physicians will improve health care access and quality of care and provide a positive economic impact in Washington State.

The UW/WSU four-year medical school and expanded graduate medical education at WSU Spokane will allow for an increase in medical school enrollment by 100-120 students. This increase will allow for our region to keep its college graduates. In 2010, the University of Washington received 723 medical school applications from Washington students; 80% of Washington State graduates were turned away.

Our region needs to keep its new professionals. Studies have shown that college graduates are more likely to begin their careers where they complete their training. The movement toward a four-year medical school will allow for the City of Spokane to build upon its health care sector by attracting the research and biotech companies that our region needs in order to retain young professionals and a diversified workforce. It will also have a $2.1 billion economic impact and add more than 13,000 jobs to our state in 20 years.

Please help bring a four-year medical school to Spokane. Please Click here to write to your elected official.