The state legislature will consider a plan to help fund a new medical school at the University of Northern Colorado and three other programs statewide that train the health care workforce.
Lawmakers said they planned to introduce a bill Monday in the state House of Representatives to fund the health care workforce infrastructure.
UNC started exploring the idea of creating an osteopathic medical school in 2021. The university, located in Greeley, reported it will open the school by fall 2026.
It would be Colorado’s third medical school, joining the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus and Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, a for-profit school located in Parker.
Doctors of osteopathic medicine can work in any field — like doctors of medicine, or MDs — but they are more likely to choose primary care, because their education puts more emphasis on prevention and wellness. They also learn ways to manipulate the bones and muscles that aren’t in the curriculum at other medical schools.
Gov. Jared Polis, who spoke at the plan’s announcement Monday, estimated the new medical school could produce about 150 graduates per year.
The announcement of the bill sent out by the governor’s office did not say how much state funding is being sought for the new medical school; the bill’s text was on immediately available Monday.
The bill also would give financial support to Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Health Institute Tower, Colorado State University’s Veterinary Health Education Complex and additions to Trinidad State College’s Valley Campus in Alamosa.
The Trinidad State additions would allow it to take about 50% more students into its health programs, and MSU Denver could increase its capacity by 25%.
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