The state Legislature, in bipartisan votes in the House and Senate, gave the green light to a new Washington State University medical school in Spokane
It seems a wise move for Washington state, which is big enough to support two medical schools.
The state now has a population of 7 million, up more than a million in the past 15 years. But the only state-run medical school, the University of Washington in Seattle, has just 120 slots available each year to in-state students. That, according to a recent study, is about 400 fewer slots than states with similar populations.
There is a real need for more well-trained doctors, particularly in rural Eastern Washington. A Spokane medical school — surrounded by many rural communities — could be the right place to grow some of those doctors.
UW officials aren’t happy with this direction and would rather retain control of the state’s medical education. Who can blame them? The state has been pinching pennies when it comes to higher education. The more schools sharing the pie, the smaller the slices.
Yet, it seems the need to provide more opportunities to allow in-state residents to become doctors is reason enough to expand to two medical schools. WSU has commissioned a study showing it is well-positioned to pursue an accredited medical school.
At this point, given the clear need, it makes sense for WSU to take the lead in locating the school in Spokane, which is relatively close to the main campus in Pullman.
If the effort to establish a medical school under WSU authority runs off the rails, putting it under the UW’s umbrella could be an option.
But let’s give WSU an opportunity to make this work.
The Legislature has approved legislation that eliminates a restriction dating from 1917 that gives the UW the exclusive right to operate a public medical school in the state.
Washingtonians who are qualified to go to medical school need more opportunities. And rural Eastern Washington needs more doctors.
