December 16, 2014
Advisory council recommends UW medical school expansion in Spokane, increased residencies in rural areas
The University of Washington’s expansion of its medical school in Spokane and an increase in residency positions are among the ways to best meet the economic and health care needs in Spokane and throughout the state, according to an advisory council chairman’s report released today.
The 11-member council, chaired by former Washington Gov. Dan Evans, voted unanimously on a comprehensive set of five recommendations.
In Spring 2014, UW President Michael K. Young announced “Next Generation WWAMI,” an effort to build on the success of the program named for the five states it serves (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho). The initiative includes significant expansion of Washington medical students and biomedical research in Spokane; adoption of a new state-of-the-art medical education curriculum; and expansion of training opportunities in underserved areas across the state.
Young convened the Presidential Advisory Council on Medical Education Access and Affordability to assess the health care and economic needs of the both the Spokane community and the state, and recommend how “Next Generation WWAMI” can best meet these needs.The council was not asked to determine if a separately accredited medical school is necessary or should be pursued by WSU, but the council stated in the report that it expects the UW and WSU “to be aligned in a plan for providing medical education in the state of Washington,” specifically related to the needs and objectives of the Spokane community.
“The WWAMI concept was unique and highly innovative when it was started 43 years ago to meet the need for physicians to practice in rural communities,” said Evans. “Nothing like it had ever been tried before. It has proved remarkably successful and efficient. Times have changed and it was worth asking this advisory council to take a fresh look at it and suggest what needs to be done to meet current needs in medical care. We concluded the model is excellent. It needs to be expanded, modernized, and adjusted so it can continue to produce high quality physicians for the next 40 years.”
The advisory council’s primary recommendations include:
- UW School of Medicine proceed with planned expansion to 120 medical students per class in Spokane as soon as possible.
- UW School of Medicine aggressively pursue regional expansion opportunities in additional communities across the state. The Council specifically noted their impressive meeting in Tri-Cities, where expanded residencies and medical education are seen as key priorities for the business and health care community.
- UW School of Medicine provide a specific plan for research and commercialization activities designed in conjunction with its medical education program expansion. Looking beyond a four-year medical school, the Spokane community indicated that research and commercialization opportunities in the region are a key component of UW School of Medicine’s expansion there, but want more detail on how the research will be developed and implemented.
- UW School of Medicine include residency expansion, specifically in rural and underserved areas, as a key component of the next generation of WWAMI. UW School of Medicine should work with education partners and health care providers to identify immediate, near-term opportunities for investment and growth in residencies.
Finally, a survey of WWAMI first-year and clinical assistant deans provided recommendations to make the program more effective and efficient for partners. These included providing additional administrative support and resources, especially as the program continues to grow; focusing on outcomes rather than process when evaluating which aspects of WWAMI are most efficiently centralized and which are most efficiently decentralized; proactively engaging with stakeholders and making them feel that their input is not only heard, but also valued and prioritized; identifying a more efficient management structure; and instituting increased transparency and accountability measures in operations and outcomes, particularly in the use of partner-state funds.
“I want to express my deep appreciation to Governor Evans and the members of the advisory council for their commitment and effort in looking at how the UW WWAMI model can serve our state’s health care needs going forward,” said Young. “They have provided a road map for where we need to get to and a number of specific recommendations for improving a program that has been the main driver in the UW’s ranking as the best primary care and rural medicine program in the nation. The entire state will benefit from their work.”
Members of the advisory council:
- Former Gov. Dan Evans (chair)
Kristi Blake, UW regent
Phyllis Campbell, vice chairman, JPMorgan Chase and former WSU Regent
Dave Clack, former chairman, Old National Bank
Mari Clack, former UW Regent
Betsy Cowles, chairman, Cowles Company and former WSU regent
Gerald Grinstein, member, UW Medicine Board
Scott Morris, president and CEO, Avista Corporation
Lura Powell, WSU regent
Rogelio Riojas, UW regent
Mike Worthy, WSU regent
