“We’re disappointed by WSU’s announcement today to pursue a separate, independent medical school aside from the existing Spokane medical school we’ve worked hard to build together in partnership with the Spokane community.
At a time when fully funding basic education and addressing our mental health crisis loom large, we believe creating a second, $47 million medical school raises many questions and concerns about the highest and best use of limited resources.
Addressing our healthcare disparities in Eastern Washington and growing an innovative, sustainable economy in Spokane demand that we put aside individual institutional ambitions and focus on what is best for our students, the Spokane community and the state. WWAMI, our existing UW-WSU partnership in Spokane, is currently recognized as the most efficient, effective community-based medical education program in the nation, with the potential for $1.6 billion in economic impact for the Spokane region.
The UW remains committed to investing in and growing this partnership with the support of the Spokane community and the Washington state legislature to support sustainable economic development for the region.”
Learn more about UW’s Next Generation Medical Education proposal.