Jakub Tolar, MD, PHD
Dean
University of Minnesota Medical School
Ken Holmen, MD
President and CEO
CentraCare
On behalf of CentraCare and the University of Minnesota Medical School, we want to say thank you. Our organizations have been working for the past two years to bring a regional medical school campus to St. Cloud, and the progress we’ve achieved is largely because of our remarkable physicians, staff and the support of our communities.
The vision to expand the UMMS’s footprint to Central Minnesota is a bold idea to address a growing healthcare crisis. Rural Americans are at greater risk of death from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic respiratory disease and stroke. One contributing factor is access to care. While 20 percent of the U.S. population lives in rural communities, only 11 percent of physicians practice in these areas. Greater Minnesota residents find it more difficult to get appropriate care in a timely manner close to home.
We want to change that.
And based on the community support we’ve received from people across Minnesota, we know you want to see change also. More than 150 businesses across the region formally expressed support for this concept – a clear recognition that health and wellness is foundational to communities’ ability to thrive.
What makes this situation even more urgent is Minnesota’s rural physicians are retiring faster than they can be replaced. That’s why we’re looking for the next generation of physicians. And the best way to attract new physicians to rural Minnesota is to train them in rural Minnesota.
This innovative collaboration is an investment in the future health of our region. Developing a medical campus in St. Cloud will be the first expansion of the University’s Medical School in 52 years and comes at a time when this region’s growing population needs better access to healthcare.
The next milestone for this effort occurs in mid-October, when the University of Minnesota Board of Regents votes on final approval. Once approved, we’ll work toward the goal of welcoming our first class of medical students in the fall of 2025.
As we continue this journey, it is gratifying to know our communities are as eager for the outcome as are our two organizations.
