$10M bill to fund more medical students at U of U


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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House is considering funding $10 million to enroll more students at the University of Utah Medical School. Administrators hope the money will lead to better health care for Utahns. Officials say all of this money is to get ahead of the flood of people who will need health care in the coming years.

The newly enacted Affordable Care Act, or "Obama Care," will require more people to have access to health care.

What the bill would do:
  • 40 new medical students, making 122 slots available each year
  • 82 percent of all students admitted would be Utah residents, or have graduated from a Utah school
  • Bill sponsor Senator John Valentine says the money would come from new tax revenue generated by economic growth
  • The University of Utah Medical School would also add $6 million

"Things are going to get so dire going forward that we're going to draw upon all of our resources to solve the problem," said Ryan Coil.

Dallas native Coil is a second-year medical student. He moved to Utah to be closer to family and to attend the University of Utah Medical School.

"I intend on staying here in Utah when I'm done with my education," Coil said. "And I'll be a part of the physician workforce here in Utah. I already know there's a shortage, and the shortage is just going to get worse."

Dr. Vivian Lee says Utah is hurting for primary care physicians, and training new doctors takes roughly seven to 10 years.


When students come out with large debt, we worry that they feel like they have to go into the more lucrative specialties. Then we don't meet the needs of the community, which is really primary care.

–Dr. Vivian Lee


"We've had a pretty good track record of identifying and admitting students who are committed to primary care, so it's a big factor even in our admissions process," Lee said.

A 2012 study from the Utah Medical Education Council identified some problems contributing to the doctor shortage:

  • Utah has approximately 178 patient doctors per 100,000 people, which is below the 290 per 100,000 people industry standard.
  • Utah's only medical school made financial cuts during the recession, dropping enrollment .
  • Utah's population is among the fastest growing in the nation during the past three years .
  • Utah has the eighth highest life expectancy in the nation.

Instead of raising tuition to pay for more slots, Lee says raising tuition adds to student debt, which pushes graduates toward higher-paid medical specialties instead of primary care.

"When students come out with large debt, we worry that they feel like they have to go into the more lucrative specialties," Lee said. "Then we don't meet the needs of the community, which is really primary care."

This bill is in the House under negotiations for funding. It'll be up for vote on Monday.

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