RENO - A University of Nevada School of Medicine-Renown Health joint Steering Committee has been exploring a strategic partnership for the past eight months. The two organizations announced approval of an initial five-year plan to benefit northern Nevadans and significantly increase the number of physicians who train and practice in Nevada. The recommendations of the Steering Committee include the creation of a formal affiliation agreement between both organizations and a joint leadership team to guide and oversee the implementation of new medical educational and research programs at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno.
The Renown Health Board of Directors on May 27 adopted the recommendations of the Steering Committee and committed $5 million of funding over the next three years. Renown leadership was authorized to move forward to formalize the affiliation agreement, pending presentation to the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents at their quarterly meeting on June 5.
The Steering Committee recommended a strategic partnership and outlined key expectations that include:
• Expansion of the School of Medicine on the University of Nevada, Reno campus to a full four-year campus for medical student education, including expanded teaching capacity for third and fourth year medical students and new residency (graduate medical education) programs in pediatrics and neurology.
• Planning for the construction of a donor-funded Center for Education and Clinical Simulation at Renown Regional Medical Center.
While Renown Health has committed $5 million toward the implementation of the five-year plan and this strategic partnership, success in achieving the goals as outlined ultimately will depend upon funding from the State of Nevada, private donors, grants and other sources of income available through the School of Medicine.
While the School of Medicine and Renown have had an affiliation to train internal medicine and family medicine residents for many years, this collaboration magnifies that relationship in several significant ways, particularly in expanding medical student teaching capacity in partnership with community physicians.[[In-content Ad]]
