Fort Worth | Cultural District: UNT Health Science Center

[NThomas]

UNT regents expected to vote on M.D. proposal for Fort Worth health science center today
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Nov. 19, 2009
By Dianna Hunt (dhunt@star-telegram.com)
Full Article (http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/1777010.html)

After more than two years of emotion-packed debate and discussion, University of North Texas regents are expected to vote today on whether to pursue opening an M.D. program to pair with its osteopathic medical school in Fort Worth.

Osteopaths say such a move would devastate the acclaimed Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. But many community leaders say an M.D. school would be good for the city and would prevent another school from moving into Fort Worth to train its medical residents...

It would help to bring more development to the campus. Here's the proposed Master Plan (http://www.hsc.unt.edu/campusfacilityUpdate/links/images/UNTHSCFinalMasterPlan_small.pdf) at build out:

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/207/unthsc.png

[NThomas]

UNT regents approve M.D. school at Fort Worth's health science center
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Nov. 20, 2009
By Dianna Hunt (dhunt@star-telegram.com)


Impassioned pleas from osteopathic physicians failed to sway the UNT regents, who voted unanimously Friday to proceed with plans to open an M.D. school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

Despite concerns that the move would hurt the acclaimed Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at the science center, the regents agreed to proceed with phase one.

The first phase would include raising the estimated $21.5 million in startup costs, hammering out residency commitments from hospitals, and drawing up academic and business plans to set up the medical school.

Before students can attend classes beginning in 2013, however, the Legislature must approve the measure, because the enabling legislation for the health science center specifically stated that it would not offer an M.D. degree...

[tamtagon]

More good news as North Texas institutions continue work to advance the region as an primary destination for higher education:

UNT aims to open M.D. school in FW
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2009/12/14/story2.html?b=1260766800^2576191

University aims to build on the Health Science Center’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dallas Business Journal - by Joyce Tsai Staff writer


Flush from its success in getting approval from the Texas Legislature to establish a law school in Dallas, the University of North Texas is at it again. This time, it’s working on a bid to open an M.D. school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.

The center has an existing medical school — the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. It’s one of the nation’s top-ranked programs offering a four-year medical degree of osteopathy, or D.O., which emphasizes whole-body approaches to medicine.

UNT believes that launching an M.D. school is necessary to help to meet the rising need for health care professionals in Texas, especially in Fort Worth and throughout Tarrant County.
...
The Lone Star State currently ranks No. 42 among all 50 U.S. states for physician supply, Ransom said. The situation is likely to become dire in the future, as the state is hit by the perfect storm for physician shortages: rapidly growing state population, the graying of baby boomers and retirement of many health care professionals — all occurring during the next 10 to 15 years.

Hurdles to clear

It will have to achieve four primary milestones between now and November 2010, Upp said: raising about $25 million in start-up funding, putting together detailed business and academic plans for the school, getting agreements from hospitals to train and teach students and developing plans to guarantee the continued growth of the osteopathic college.

.... If everything goes as planned, UNT could have an approved M.D. school launched as early as 2013, Upp said. The goal is to have 100 students per class, for an eventual total of 400 students in the four-year program.

[CTroyMathis]

Construction stuff:

http://www.hsc.unt.edu/campusfacilityUpdate/links/Gallery.html

[tamtagon]

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/morning_call/2011/08/unt-health-science-center-plans-to.html

UNT Health Science Center plans to keep growing
Dallas Business Journal - by Lance Murray
August 8, 2011, 6:04am CDT

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth plans to continue growing despite the legislature's recent failure to approve an M.D. program for the institution. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that the health science center plans to boost total enrollment from 1,579 in 2010 to 1,775 this fall.

"Everything we produce -- as far as doctors, and physician assistants, and physical therapists -- this state and the country need a whole lot more of," said Dr. Scott Ransom, head of the center since 2006, told the Star-Telegram.

The newspaper reported that among the programs that should help boost the school is a Ph.D. program in pharmacy that is expected to be approved this month by the UNT board of regents.

The largest program at the institution is the 728-student Texas College of Ostepathic Medicine. The college was founded in 1970 and is the formative body of what is now the health science center, the Star-Telegram reported.

I'm guessing the denial of the M.D. program was because legislators don't think the state has the money, also guessing legislators will approve the program in a couple years.