Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

WSU, UW medical schools included in House budget

David Wasson And Jim Camden Staff writers

OLYMPIA – Spokane’s bid to train more doctors would get a multimillion-dollar transfusion over the next two years under a budget proposed by House Democrats.

The state’s two largest universities each would get what they asked for to begin their planned expansions in the downtown Spokane University District.

Washington State University would get $8 million over the next two years to seek accreditation and begin establishing a new Spokane-based medical school, which could begin enrolling students in 2017.

The University of Washington would receive nearly $9.4 million to expand enrollment in the Spokane branch of its medical school to 120 students by 2017, 60 each in first- and second-year instruction. The five-state program, often referred to as WWAMI, currently has 40 first-year and nine second-year students.

“It’s pretty much all good news,” said Rich Hadley, former CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated and leader of a community group formed to support WSU’s push for its own medical school. “It’s a day of pride for Spokane and the outlying areas. We’re going increase the number of primary care doctors in this state, which is really needed.”

Hadley and others cautioned, however, that the proposed House plan is just the beginning of a potentially contentious budget debate in the Legislature over the next several weeks. The Republican-controlled state Senate is expected to roll out its proposed spending plan next week.

“There’s several more steps before we have a final budget,” said Lisa Brown, the former Senate majority leader now serving as chancellor of the WSU Spokane campus. “But, thus far, it appears good for medical education in Spokane.”

The plan also includes $3 million to expand physician residency training in a UW health care network and about $7.7 million to reinstate a loan repayment and scholarship program for medical professionals. Both are part of a package of proposals sought by UW.

Ana Mari Cauce, interim UW president, said the university also was pleased that the House budget “recognizes the critical importance” of expanding UW’s primary care program in Spokane.

The allocations are contained within the proposed $38.8 billion operating budget crafted by Democrats who control the House.

“We’re funding the new medical school,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ross Hunter, D-Medina, noting both legislative chambers already agreed to change a 1917 law that restricted doctor training to the University of Washington.

The ranking Republican on the committee, Rep. Kevin Parker of Spokane, said it was important to ensure UW doesn’t lose money for its program because it would take years for the first WSU students to complete medical school and residency training.

“From the beginning, my intention with the med school project was to keep WWAMI whole,” Parker said. “It’s likely it could be a decade before we see any real fruit from the WSU med school.”

The University of Washington and WSU used to be partners in the Spokane physician training program. They parted ways late last year over disagreements surrounding WSU’s push for its own medical school, which backers say is intended to complement rather than compete with UW’s internationally recognized programs.

The Legislature cleared the way for a WSU medical school last week by agreeing to change the law restricting doctor training to UW. Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign off on the change next week.

Chad Sokol of the Murrow News Service contributed to this report.