Last week, Rep. Marcus Riccelli was joined by Republican State Senator Michael Baumgartner to announce a bi-partisan proposal to create a brand new medical school in Spokane, operated by Washington State University. Read the press release announcing the proposal here.
The propose would change a 1917 law that prohibits state schools other than the University of Washington from opening a state medical school. In an editorial in the Spokesman Review last Friday, Rep. Riccelli and Sen. Baumgartner stated that the WSU Medical School is an “achievable investment worth supporting.” Click here to read the Spokesman Review editorial.
Watch the entire announcement and Rep. Riccelli speaking about the need for an increase in physicians in Eastern Washington.
[youtube width=”560″ height=”315″]https://youtu.be/CI5RnWhhqj8?t=11m20s[/youtube]
Since the announcement, multiple news outlets have covered the story, including a radio interview with Rep. Riccelli that you can listen to online on KXLY 920 AM. Below are more stories detailing the proposal:
Gonzaga and Legislature Enter Medical School Conversation (Northwest Public Radio)
State legislators support new medical education model (Spokesman Review)
Lawmakers announce WSU medical school bill (Associated Press)
Proposed WSU medical school could increase rural doctors (KREM 2)
Spokane lawmakers to seek state aid for WSU medical school (Tri-City Herald)
Legislators unveil bills for new WSU medical school (Seattle Times)