Medical school proposed by ISU chief
Pocatello, Idaho Idaho should create a medical school at Idaho State University, ISU’s interim president told the state Board of Education.
“ISU is charged as the lead institution in health and support sciences,” Michael Gallagher told the board at its meeting Thursday in Pocatello. “We are willing to work with the board and the Idaho Medical Association, plus other institutions including the Legislature, to help define what the future of health and medical education should look like in Idaho.”
Idaho has no medical school. It belongs to a program that allows students from Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho to attend the University of Washington School of Medicine for the same tuition paid by Washington students. The program, known as WWAMI, encourages graduates to choose careers in family practice medicine and to work in the Northwest.
Idaho does not have enough physicians to serve its population, said Dr. Steve Coker, a Pocatello physician who spoke in favor of Gallagher’s plan at the meeting. Coker said doctors tend to stay in communities where they did their residency or went to medical school.
“We are not doing a very good job as citizens of this state in providing physicians,” Coker said.
Coker added that it’s more difficult for Idaho students to get into a medical school if they don’t have one in the state.
Gallagher said ISU offers most of the courses that are required in the first two years of medical school. The school would have to hire two new faculty members to complete a program that would supply the first half of a medical school program. He added that Idaho already has family practice residency programs in Boise and in Pocatello.
“We’ve got it all right here ready to go,” Coker said. “We just have to come up with the plan and the steps and get everyone in the state to get involved in this.”
The board, which governs Idaho’s public schools and institutions of higher learning, has not discussed medical school recently, said board member Blake Hall. Hall noted he has heard the matter come up in other settings.
“I’ve always been a bit perplexed in all my years on the board, this is the first time anyone’s come to the board and mentioned the word ‘medical school,’ ” Hall said.
Activist group leader enters race for Congress
Idaho Falls, Idaho Jim Hansen, a lawyer who leads the liberal-leaning activist group United Vision for Idaho, has entered the race for Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District.
Hansen and Idaho Falls chemist Craig Cooper are competing for the chance to take on incumbent U.S. Rep Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.
The two Democrats say they plan to carpool to campaign events.
“I’ve got nothing but good things to say about Jim,” Cooper said of Hansen. “He’s a standup guy. Him getting in the race shows there’s a lot of energy in the Democratic Party.”
Hansen’s father, Orval Hansen, served in Congress from 1969 to 1975. His uncles, Reed and John Hansen, each served in the Idaho Legislature. And Jim Hansen served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 1989 to 1994.
Hansen has worked to reform Idaho’s campaign finance laws. He is an advocate of public campaign financing and said he plans to limit campaign donations to $100 per person in the primary and general elections.
This week he said he would take money from political action committees, but he plans to limit contributions to $2,000.
Wild Game Feast to benefit NIC
A dinner of wild game in January will raise money for student scholarships and the alumni association at NIC.
Tickets are now on sale for the annual Wild Game Feast on Jan. 28, a four-course meal by Coeur d’Alene Inn chef Gene Tillman.
The event will also feature a wine selection and a display of local artwork.
The cost is $50 per person, with a $5 discount for alumni association members.
For more information, call 769-7806.
NIC raffle prizes announced; tickets for sale
Prizes ranging from a $250,000 custom home to a $2,000 shopping spree are up for grabs in the NIC Foundation’s Really Big Raffle.
Proceeds go toward funding educational needs at North Idaho College.
The 3,720-square-foot, custom house is being constructed by NIC carpentry students, in the Coeur d’Alene Place development.
Tickets are on sale for $100 each, and can be purchased by calling 769-3271 or visiting http://foundation.nic.edu/rbr.
People who buy tickets before May 31 will be eligible for the early bird prizes: a home theater system and digital camera.
The drawing is on July 12, 2006.
Fiesta de Diciembre offered next weekend
NIC is offering a taste of Latino culture next weekend with its Fiesta de Diciembre. A children’s dance group will perform, salsa dance lessons will be offered, and crafts and food will be on sale.
Members of the North Idaho College Diversity Events Committee will perform “Las Posadas,” a song traditionally sung at Christmas fiestas, symbolizing Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter at various inns.
The event runs Friday and Saturday. For more information, call: 769-3397.