Progress reportedly is made on med center

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005 | 10:55 a.m.

Officials from the city of Las Vegas, the Nevada System of Higher Education and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said they met and made progress Monday toward creating an academic medical center.

"These meetings were very productive and give us a path to follow over the next several months that will get us all closer to our dream of having an academic medical center for our citizens," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said in a press release about the meetings.

The academic medical center would focus on research, training and clinical work.

The officials said they agreed that the medical center would be a community-based and owned asset.

The group agreed to develop a master plan by year's end between the city and the Nevada System of Higher Education. The plan would include a space and site plan for an academic medical center.

Nevada Higher Education System Chancellor James E. Rogers stressed that the planning would include not only enhanced facilities for the University of Nevada School of Medicine, but also for health-related disciplines within the system, including the UNLV School of Dentistry and other systemwide health related programs.

The parties also agreed to develop an agreement for the management of an academic medical center with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The agreement would include operating responsibilities and funding avenues.

The officials agreed that developing an academic medical center would include a significant investment by all parties. Until the master plans are completed, it is premature to discuss specific costs associated with the project, they said.

"Our goal is to develop a first class medical facility that will match the explosive growth of the state," Rogers said in the press release. "This center will benefit all Nevadans through enhanced medical care, improved research and a significant expansion of the School of Medicine. The academic medical center will be an equal partnership between all parties with the terms and forms of contributions to be worked out in negotiations based on today's broad agreements."

Michele McKenney, president of diversified services for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, was quoted as saying, "We are glad that the planning process has begun to develop an academic medical center in the city of Las Vegas. We are excited about the opportunity to bring an academic medical center, in partnership with the university system, to Las Vegas."