Report of the Special House Committee on the Need for a Second Medical School

Abstract

Pursuant to direction of the 1967 session of the Minnesota Legislature, the House Rules Committee appointed a committee from members of the House Appropriations Committee to a continuing study of the need for expanding medical education and the possibility of a new medical school in Minnesota. There has never been a time in the history of medical education in Minnesota, when as much interest is being directed toward its growth and diversity. This committee has heard from three groups, namely; N.A.M.E., Board of Trustees of the Mayo Foundation, and the Northern Minnesota Council on Medical Education, all of whom outlined plans for a new medical school. The University of Minnesota explained the proposal for expansion of the Health Sciences at the University's Minneapolis Campus and suggested plans for further extension in other parts of the state. It appears there are exciting possibilities for expansion, innovation and new programs for medical education in Minnesota. This committee outlines, in this report, immediate steps that it feels should be taken as well as plans extending into the future. After personal visits to medical schools in various parts of the nation and hearing plans in other states, the committee sees a sense of urgency entering into the need for Minnesota to start plans immediately for whatever course future expansion will follow. The competition for federal funds grows more intense each year. A word of caution is noted however. In spite of ever increasing demands for more medical practitioners in all areas of health sciences, the Legislature must recognize the limits of Minnesota's resources and its ability through taxes to support all the demands of the people of the state. The committee agrees that if expansion in the scope as anticipated by all of the proponents of the plans suggested in this report are put into operation vast sums of money must be raised by private subscription. Medical education is a costly necessity and a quality product demands huge expenditures both for buildings and programs. In view of these admitted high costs and demonstrated needs, the Minnesota Legislature must weigh carefully its financial support so that the highest priority goes to those areas of greatest urgency in meeting the medical demands of the people of Minnesota now and in the future. We are proud "after four years of study" to make these recommendations to you, our colleagues, in the House and Senate.