ISU seeks 'green light' on medical degree program
Vailas is plowing ahead with ambitious plans to offer Idaho's first medical degree program, despite an order by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter this week to cut another 3 percent from state budgets already whittled down by 1 percent in September.
"At some point, somebody has to give us the green light," Vailas told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Idaho is among a handful of states without a medical school. In January, the state Board of Education is expected to consider a detailed proposal to create a medical degree program on the Pocatello campus.
The program would require $21 million in startup money, which the university plans to cover with a loan, and would plan to enroll 60 medical students each year beginning as soon as 2012, Vailas said.
"We're not asking the state for money," he said.
Vailas will, however, ask the board that governs higher education at Idaho public colleges and universities for permission to begin the accreditation process with the nationally recognized Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
The state now sends medical students to train as doctors in Seattle through a cooperative program that reserves spots for Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska and Montana at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The program, known as WWAMI, reserves seats for 20 students from Idaho.
While both the University of Idaho and Boise State University are in favor of expanding WWAMI rather than building a medical school, the governor told a legislative committee this year he was "terribly disappointed" in the program because the state hasn't been able to retain enough doctors from Idaho.
Meanwhile, Vailas has been trying to interest lawmakers in creating a medical program on the Pocatello campus since his first public speech as university president in 2006.
The school has a statewide mission to provide health and science education, said Vailas, a former NASA researcher and National Institute of Health fellow who was chosen for the presidency largely on the basis of his medical credentials.
Recent comments
It is short-sighted NOT to think Idaho should have a medical school....
Anonymous | Dec. 5, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.
Actually there already is a law school in Idaho.
It is INSANELY...
Anonymous | Dec. 4, 2008 at 6:11 p.m.
If Idaho State opens a medical school won't it be necessary also to...
GTO | Dec. 4, 2008 at 5:33 p.m.
- Tuesday on TV 12:13 a.m.
- 'Dancing' will fill out finale 12:13 a.m.
- I'll take doc's advice on mammogram 12:12 a.m.
- Editorial: Winning fans' hearts 12:11 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: Barzee case like Jeffs' 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: Trump card for believers 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: Can't erase genetics 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: Rushing to judge Palin 12:11 a.m.
- Letters: MLS not BCS 12:11 a.m.
- Real Champions
- Bronco, Kyle rubber match
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- BYU's Lamb, Jorgensen reprimanded
- Plenty on line for rivalry game
- Time for big matchups in WAC, MWC
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
- BCS at-large bids up for grabs
- Hall, Johnson matchup key
- Fans greet returning Real Salt Lake
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
213 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
196 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
133 - BYU records with win
132 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
131 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
110 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
103 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99
Fesenko returning to the bench? Yeah, probably. But I sure hope that he'll...
Real did it. They shocked the world. Just like the Utes last year in the...
I lived in Phx area for years, served on a City board for 7 years. My board...
Joseph Smith charged money for his money-digging ventures, and he took a...
Jared Quayle is a stud. He plays like a beast every time he touches the...
No Phx is not a majority LDS city Mesa is. As far as Tom's comment about...
Lest my Utah friends think I was just going to bang on my own, I think UteFan...
You can read the official declaration online via a photo of the original....
"McFeatters states that what Palin is doing, and doing brilliantly, is being...
don't mean to pick on you but fans from both sides make it easy to despise...


