Candidates run on promise for medical school

Three republican candidates for the Idaho House and Senate are running on a joint issue – building a medical school in Pocatello.

The democratic incumbents say it’s a great idea, but say the republicans weren’t the first to think of it. In fact, the candidates on both sides of the aisle agree agree a medical school will be a big boon not just to our area, but Idaho as well.

They just disagree on the cost, implementation and process to get it started.

Current legislative district 29 senator Roy Lacey said there’s a lot that needs to be done before a medical school can come to Idaho.

Included in that, he said it would cost millions to sustain, something Idaho’s poor economy simply cannot do right now.

“We have to grow our base before we can start expanding,” he said. He added when he looked into the issue, a cost for instructors alone would be $92 million the first five years.

“Let’s get more money into our residency programs,” Lacey said. “70 percent of those residents stay in Idaho. And that’s a really good, inexpensive way to get them here.”

His opponent, Dr. Kert Howard, along with republican candidates for the two representative seats Matt Bloxham and Terrell Tovey, disagree. They said they held a meeting recently with senate leaders and the presidency of Idaho State University, and said the university has a good plan in place, possibly utilizing the former Bannock Regional Medical Center building.

“And with the brick and mortar already being here, and what the students will generate,” said Howard, “this will actually benefit not only us, but all the other education in Pocatello.

Matt Bloxham, who is also the former student body president at ISU, said the building could be an option for the new school, and he knows the Portneuf Healthcare Foundation, which owns the building, and the university have been discussing options for some time now.

“They’re looking at ways to best utilize that, whether it be for clinics, whether it be private/public partnerships,” Bloxham said. “But that conversation is happening.”

But Lacey said a university president has to start the process, then go to the State Board of Education.

“The boss of them is the governor,” Lacey said. “Those are the steps you have to take to get it done. The Legislature cannot create a medical school. You have to go through the jumps.”

Idaho State University released a statement in response to questions about plans for a medical school: “Idaho State University is the lead institution in the state for health professions, and would welcome discussion about Idaho-based medical education.”

Representative Elaine Smith also commented on the situation, simply saying the medical school would likely not be affiliated with any university, but it would still mean more funding for education.