Another crop the valley needs to grow: Doctors

Modesto Bee 3/1/07

A business plan for a much-needed medical school in the San Joaquin Valley is expected to be completed by June. That's a positive step, though we'd have preferred that this proposal move even more quickly through the University of California system.

The medical school would be based at UC Merced, with students working at partner hospitals and clinics around the valley, presumably including Modesto.

We have a great need for a medical school; we must not bungle this opportunity. The valley has 25 percent fewer primary care doctors and 41 percent fewer specialists than the rest of the state. That's part of the reason it takes so long to see a specialist. Long waits should be enough to motivate residents to lobby state leaders for a valley medical school. It will only get worse as the region's population increases. A valley medical school would help because we'd be growing our own doctors. That should be coupled with an effective strategy to encourage other doctors to relocate here.

There would be an economic benefit. A UC study says the valley has lost more than $845 million due to insured patients being forced to go to the Bay Area or Los Angeles for advanced medical care.

Riverside has approval to proceed with its plans for a med school; perhaps its team could offer some advice. When approved in November, UC officials said the Riverside proposal wouldn't hinder the chances of a new medical school at UC Merced. Now, supporters of a valley medical school must make sure our proposal is approved.

UC Merced officials said submitting the business plan to the UC office of the president begins the review process. The valley has a strong case. This proposal will not be successful unless the entire region is behind it.