Post by Devastator on Jan 24, 2006 14:22:22 GMT -5
www.alligator.org/pt2/060124medschool.php
UF IS CONCERNED WITH UCF AND FIU'S PLANS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOLS.
By JUSTIN RICHARDS
Alligator Writer
Two state universities have aspirations to build medical schools, but UF officials worry such projects would divert state money away from the flagship university.
In November, Florida International University and the University of Central Florida submitted plans to the Board of Governors, which presides over the State University System. The board, which meets at UF on Thursday, will vote on the proposals in March.
If approved by the governors, the proposals will be sent to the Legislature.
Both UCF and FIU have raised millions of dollars to support their medical school ambitions.
UF Provost Janie Fouke said a medical school at FIU or UCF would not be the boon to the state that UF's medical college is.
In order to produce local physicians, a school needs a residency program to keep graduates in the community, she said. Doctors typically set up practices in the areas where they completed their residencies.
UCF in Orlando and FIU in Miami have established partnerships with local hospitals. When the schools proposed their ideas to the board in November, residency programs were among the board's prerequisites.
Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Healthcare have collectively donated $2.5 million to UCF's medical school effort. Other private donors have contributed over $20 million.
FIU is establishing a residency program at Mercy Hospital in Miami, which the federal government will pay for, FIU Provost Ronald Berkman said.
FIU also has received $20 million in private funding for its medical school.
Fouke said the state should help every school achieve its mission, but there's "not enough money in the state of Florida for every university to have everything."
Currently, UF, Florida State University and the University of South Florida are the only public universities with medical schools.
"There's only so much money in the state," Fouke said, "and so if money goes to these activities, there will by definition be less money for everyone else, including the University of Florida."
She added: "If we're going to make it to the Top 10, we're going to need every resource that we can garner."
UF is not the only school that dreams of national prestige.
Officials from UCF and FIU both said helping their doctor-deficient communities was their main goal, but they also hope to improve their status as public research institutions.
"Of course a medical school does, no matter what anyone says, add to the prestige of your institution. Clearly, medical schools also bring in a lot of research dollars," UCF spokesman Tom Evelyn said.
UF IS CONCERNED WITH UCF AND FIU'S PLANS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOLS.
By JUSTIN RICHARDS
Alligator Writer
Two state universities have aspirations to build medical schools, but UF officials worry such projects would divert state money away from the flagship university.
In November, Florida International University and the University of Central Florida submitted plans to the Board of Governors, which presides over the State University System. The board, which meets at UF on Thursday, will vote on the proposals in March.
If approved by the governors, the proposals will be sent to the Legislature.
Both UCF and FIU have raised millions of dollars to support their medical school ambitions.
UF Provost Janie Fouke said a medical school at FIU or UCF would not be the boon to the state that UF's medical college is.
In order to produce local physicians, a school needs a residency program to keep graduates in the community, she said. Doctors typically set up practices in the areas where they completed their residencies.
UCF in Orlando and FIU in Miami have established partnerships with local hospitals. When the schools proposed their ideas to the board in November, residency programs were among the board's prerequisites.
Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Healthcare have collectively donated $2.5 million to UCF's medical school effort. Other private donors have contributed over $20 million.
FIU is establishing a residency program at Mercy Hospital in Miami, which the federal government will pay for, FIU Provost Ronald Berkman said.
FIU also has received $20 million in private funding for its medical school.
Fouke said the state should help every school achieve its mission, but there's "not enough money in the state of Florida for every university to have everything."
Currently, UF, Florida State University and the University of South Florida are the only public universities with medical schools.
"There's only so much money in the state," Fouke said, "and so if money goes to these activities, there will by definition be less money for everyone else, including the University of Florida."
She added: "If we're going to make it to the Top 10, we're going to need every resource that we can garner."
UF is not the only school that dreams of national prestige.
Officials from UCF and FIU both said helping their doctor-deficient communities was their main goal, but they also hope to improve their status as public research institutions.
"Of course a medical school does, no matter what anyone says, add to the prestige of your institution. Clearly, medical schools also bring in a lot of research dollars," UCF spokesman Tom Evelyn said.
