From the ground up: UNLV medical school taking shape

By Jackie Valley

Sunday, March 22, 2015 | 2 a.m.

What does it take to build a medical school?

Lots and lots of planning.

Students won’t arrive for another two years, but Barbara Atkinson, planning dean for the UNLV School of Medicine, has been busy crafting the school’s curriculum, recruiting and hiring faculty and scouring the state for donors.

Supporters say Las Vegas’ first allopathic medical school will improve health care in Southern Nevada and be an economic driver.

To make that happen, though, UNLV and Nevada System of Higher Education officials say they need nearly $27 million up front from the state. Gov. Brian Sandoval has signaled that he would support that funding, but he doesn’t want to shell out the money all at once. He pledged $8.3 million for the medical school over the next two years, with the rest to follow in the next biennium. UNLV medical school officials are pressing the governor for the funding from the current Legislature so that it can be ready for students in 2017.

UNLV also hopes to lure a large private donor or donors capable of giving $100 million to pay for medical school buildings.

“It’s an exciting time, because we’re planning programs and starting to recruit people to make it happen,” Atkinson said.

By the numbers

Estimated number of jobs created by the Las Vegas Medical District and UNLV School of Medicine by 2030: 24,182

Estimated economic impact of the Las Vegas Medical District and UNLV School of Medicine by 2030: $3.6 billion

Projected government revenue resulting from the Medical District and the UNLV School of Medicine by 2030: $181 million

Number of students planned for the medical school’s inaugural class: 60

Number of students the medical school hopes eventually to enroll each year: 120

Number of faculty and staff the medical school hopes to hire within 10 years: 250

The faculty

Ellen Cosgrove

Vice dean of academic affairs and education

Background: Cosgrove most recently was vice dean of academic affairs at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College, now Drexel University College of Medicine. She completed an internal medicine residency at Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center.

What intrigued her about UNLV: “The top draw for me is UNLV’s vision of building a top-tier academic medical center that will serve the communities of Southern Nevada. At UNLV, we will build a student-centered, innovative medical school curriculum from the ground up. Las Vegas is the largest urban area in the United States without a public medical school.”

Samuel Parrish

Senior associate dean of student affairs and admissions

Background: Parrish most recently was associate dean of medical student affairs at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. He received his bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Parrish completed his residency in child health at the University of Missouri and did a fellowship in adolescent medicine at Long Island Jewish-Hillside Medical Center.

What intrigued him about UNLV: “I’ve visited Las Vegas many times and have loved the vibrancy and energy of the city. I am excited to have the opportunity to play a role in building a medical school that will train exceptional physicians who will provide excellent care for patients and serve the state of Nevada.”

Laura Culley

Associate dean of health policy and community affairs

Background: Culley has more than 25 years of experience as an internal medicine physician and most recently was chief medical officer at FirstMed Health and Wellness Center, a community health center in Las Vegas. She also worked as medical director of Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada. Culley did her undergraduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, and the City University of New York and received her medical degree from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center.

What intrigued her about UNLV: “Being a part of a new medical school, research center and treatment center that will be extremely community sensitive and involved is the answer to my dreams and hopes. My expectation is that the medical school will take us from behind the curve to ahead of the curve.”

Maureen Schafer

Chief of staff

Background: Schafer most recently was chief corporate development officer at LifeNexus, Inc., a mobile health care technology company. She received her bachelor’s degree and master’s of business administration from George Washington University, and leads the Council for a Better Nevada, a citizens group aimed at improving the quality of life in Nevada.

What intrigued her about UNLV: “The right people are engaged to ensure its success and the school’s future exponential impact on the health and economy of our community.”

Potential Impact of the medical district

Las Vegas created its Medical District in 2002 to encourage health care development near University Medical Center, Valley Hospital and UNLV’s Shadow Lane Campus. Several UNLV School of Medicine buildings are planned in the area.

A clear vision

The medical school will include clinical, educational and research programs in cancer, mental health and addiction, cardiology, neuroscience and orthopedics. The school also will have residence programs in each. The focus areas were chosen based on need in Southern Nevada and nationwide, Atkinson said.