by David Dunn and Rick Smith, Outgoing Board Chair and Incoming Board Chair
Roseman University of Health Sciences is committed to transforming medical education and the health of our communities by addressing Nevada’s critical shortage of physicians through development of a revolutionary medical school. As the outgoing and incoming Chairs of Roseman University’s Board of Trustees, we are proud to be a part of this noble and transformational work in our community.
Launching a Revolutionary Medical School
Building on over 20 years of success in educating healthcare professionals in pharmacy, nursing, and dentistry, Roseman University is developing an MD-granting College of Medicine which will be located on its Summerlin Campus. Roseman University of Health Sciences is a Nevada-based, private, not-for-profit university, specializing in educating and training the next generation of highly competent, much-needed health care professionals. With its focus providing the healthcare education for the communities it serves, Roseman University is uniquely well-positioned to support Nevada’s continued need for physicians.
Addressing Nevada’s Physician Shortage
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, in 2017 Nevada ranked 47th in the country in the number of physicians per 100,000 population and 48th in the number of primary care physicians per 100,000 population. The percentage of medical school graduates from Nevada who practice primary care is in the bottom half of the national rankings. Nevada’s physician shortage is even more severe than in most states. The need for more primary care physicians, as shown by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Workforce, is significant. As of December 2018, there are 7,026 Primary Care HPSAs. Nevada’s growing and aging population requires more doctors to care for them.
Positive Financial Impact
In addition to its positive impact on Nevada’s physician workforce shortage, Roseman’s College of Medicine will bring significant new investment to the region and has the potential to bring additional economic development through the clinical and research partnerships and private business expansions that develop. According to Tripp Umbach, a nationally renowned research firm, by 2040, Roseman’s College of Medicine is projected to generate more than $1 billion in total economic impact for the state of Nevada. The College of Medicine alone will account for half of ($500 million) of the overall economic impact; however, in their analysis, Tripp Umbach researchers included the multi-faceted impact that the College of Medicine would have: including spin-off investments in the state, keeping patients in state, attracting patients from out of state, augmenting the physician workforce, research, healthcare cost savings, and population health improvement. Tripp Umbach also reported that Roseman’s College of Medicine would support approximately 3,400 jobs in the region and generate $27.4 million in state and local government revenue. Positive government revenue is an important benefit of private medical schools because unlike state-supported schools, private institutions receive no ongoing state funding for operations.
Dr. Greer’s Vision
Leading this effort is Dr. Pedro “Joe” Greer Jr., Dean of the College of Medicine, Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, and recipient of the MacArthur Fellows Genius Grant. Together with his team, Dr. Greer envisions a medical curriculum that will produce the physicians of the future, developing clinically excellent, community-based, patient-centered, socially accountable, humble, compassionate, and inclusive physicians who will be national leaders in their respective fields. This will be accomplished by innovative teaching, emphasizing not only clinical excellence, but also ethics, humility, empathy, critical and creative thinking, and real-world experience. Graduates of the College of Medicine will understand the complexities of communities and how the Social Determinants of Health impact both individual and population health. The communities we serve will be partners in our teaching and learning – giving a voice to perhaps the greatest and wisest teacher of all – patients.
Community Support
We cannot do this alone. This is where the business community can step in and help, both through individual private donations, corporate partnerships, and through leadership and belief in our new College and in the countless benefits it offers us all. As part of the business community, we look forward to continued work together to improve health outcomes, drive economic growth, and create community partnership for all. To find out more, visit giving.roseman.edu/envision/
David Dunn, President, Chief Investment Officer, Kingsbridge Wealth Management, Inc. Outgoing Board Chair, 2020-2022, Roseman University of Health Sciences
Rick Smith, President and CEO, RDS Enterprises LLC, Incoming Board Chair, 2022-2024, Roseman University of Health Sciences