Medical school comes calling

Art Nadler

Wednesday, July 1, 1998 | 11:03 a.m.

Critics think the University of Nevada School of Medicine should work on its public image, before asking the Southern Nevada community for financial support.

The medical school, with its main campus based in Reno, is planning to build a new 60,000-square-foot education and patient-care center at West Cheyenne Avenue and U.S. 95.

Located on 10 acres, it will offer full-service outpatient services, family medicine, follow-up treatment after surgery and house the school's physician residency program.

Dean Robert Daugherty said Tuesday that a major donor had backed out of pledging several million dollars. The dean also was extremely critical of other Southern Nevadans for not stepping up to the plate to swing a heavy financial bat.

Las Vegas oil man and investor Joseph Gould, however, said Tuesday afternoon that he is still interested in donating from $6 to $15 million.

"I think it (the school) is a worthy cause, and I think more people in our community should contribute," Gould said. "We are still on a very friendly basis (with the university), but there as some legal complications to work out."

Dr. Mitch Keamy, president of the Clark County Medical Society, believes the school of medicine needs to interact more with the county hospital -- University Medical Center -- instead of building a new facility.

"The medical school should extend itself more besides training physicians," Keamy said. "It should reach out a little further to the community. There are community health clinics in this town that need help.

"The dean comes to town to hustle for some money, and then wonders why the community doesn't respond."

The school is currently leasing the former Veterans Administration building on West Charleston Boulevard and also office space in the hospital's administration building at 2040 W. Charleston Blvd., said Bill Hale, UMC's chief executive officer.

Hale sees the West Cheyenne Avenue clinic as a threat to UMC because it's located next to competing Sunrise Hospital. He believes the university's 50 physicians, currently operating out of UMC, will relocate to the new clinic and may divert paying patients to Sunrise Hospital.

"There are millions of dollars involved," Hale said. "We will only have indigent patients left."

As the Clark County hospital, UMC is required to care for indigent patients. Taxpayers pick up the costs.

Daugherty said the medical school would need state funds to care for indigent patients. He stressed that many of the university's 50 physicians at UMC end up caring for Medicaid patients.

So far, the Del Webb Foundation has donated $5 million. Jim Rogers of the Sunbelt Broadcasting Co. has given $2 million.

Daugherty said he also is planning to raise a half million dollars from physicians by having each one donate a week's salary.

"Southern Nevada has shown as much interest in the School of Medicine, as the school has shown in Southern Nevada," Keamy said in frustration.

"The medical school is acting like another commercial venture. It should be working on more community commitment and its relationship with UMC and the Clark County commissioners."