Battle over medical center continues

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 | 9:56 a.m.

Local hospitals and doctors aiming to ax a proposed partnership with the University of Pittsburgh to build an academic medical center in downtown Las Vegas showed up without a plan of their own on Tuesday for a meeting they scheduled, university Chancellor Jim Rogers and Mayor Oscar Goodman said.

Led by Ann Lynch, vice president of government affairs and community affairs at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, the local physicians had asked for the meeting because they believe the University of Nevada School of Medicine and Las Vegas can expand medical education on their own without Pittsburgh's help.

But they didn't bring any ideas to the table on Tuesday, Rogers said, and instead came in asking what the School of Medicine's needs were.

Rogers said he refused to "negotiate that way," telling the officials that "You are the ones who said you have a vision that is superior to the University of Pittsburgh, and that's what I expect from you."

Pittsburgh has come up with several solid proposals, Goodman said. The city and university system are currently working with the Pittsburgh school on a master plan for the site. Rogers and Goodman said they are still open to input from local doctors, but they both want concrete proposals.

"I want to get this done," Goodman said. "For 12 years there's been nonsensical talk about getting this medical center done, but no one will get off their duff and make it happen. Between the chancellor and I, we are going to make this happen. "

Representatives from four area hospitals met with Rogers, Goodman and other university officials, including medical school Dean John McDonald, UNR President John Lilley and UNLV President Carol Harter, but the meeting was "just small talk" Rogers said.

"We didn't really get anything done, other than at least they (the competing hospitals) all met in the same room and were civil to each other," Rogers said.

The hospital officials, who could not be reached for comment, promised him a one-sheet proposal by the next meeting, scheduled for the first week in September, Rogers said. Rogers said he would release that proposal to the public.