Higher ed chancellor says UNLV medical school is critical for Nevada

By Brian Nordli

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014 | 12:45 p.m.

Sitting before a crowd of businesspeople, lawmakers, educators and other guests, Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Klaich reiterated his support for a medical school in Las Vegas, calling it “critical” for the state.

Klaich joined the presidents of UNLV, the College of Southern Nevada, Nevada State College and the Desert Research Institute at a Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance panel discussion this morning on higher education in Nevada.

Alliance CEO Tom Skancke moderated the panel.

The conversation focused on college programs that promote economic growth and the need for more investment in education from businesses and the state.

“We know creating a standalone allopathic medical school at UNLV is an absolute critical thing for this state,” Klaich said. “It’s time to start rebuilding, and we intend to be aggressive about it in this session” of the Legislature.

Last week, the NSHE Board of Regents included $26.7 million in its biennial budget request to start a medical school at UNLV.

Another $18.3 million would go toward expanding the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno and the graduate medical program.

Panel members also touched on other school programs, including the Path to Tier 1 — an initiative to place UNLV as a top research institution. They also discussed, among other things, expanding the campus at Nevada State College and an initiative to produce more teachers.