Creating a medical school at the University of Rhode Island would help to address the shortage of primary care doctors in the state, boost the economy and offer other benefits, according to a draft version of a consultant’s report.
The draft said that between 200,000 and 400,000 Rhode Islanders lack access to primary care services, indicating a shortage of between 133 and 266 clinicians. At the same time, it said, 44% of active physicians in the state are age 55 or older.
“The proposed program would emphasize primary care and community-based training, with strong integration across health disciplines,” according to the 14-page draft by Tripp Umbach, a Pittsburgh-based firm. “This approach …. would help retain more graduates in-state, particularly through incentives like loan forgiveness. The school would also generate economic growth, research activity, and healthcare access improvements.”
The findings are being presented Friday to a special legislative commission studying the idea of creating a med school at URI.
Tripp Umbach found that Rhode Island is among just two states without a public med school, “making the University of Rhode Island (URI) well-positioned to address this pressing need. Brown University, currently the sole MD-granting institution in the state, predominantly produces specialists rather than primary care providers. Of 106 graduates from primary care residencies in Rhode Island in academic year 2002–2023, only 15 (14%) planned to provide primary care in Rhode Island, demonstrating a critical leakage in the state’s healthcare workforce pipeline.”
The consultant said standing up a med school at URI would take about five years — at a cost of $225 million over 10 years — and that the first graduates would finish their studies four years later.
Tuition is estimated at $50,000 a year.
The consultant estimates an annual economic benefit of $150 million, an addition of about 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, and benefits for the state’s biomedical sector.
“While critical challenges remain, such as securing sustainable funding, expanding clinical training capacities, and managing potential resistance from existing institutions, the long-term benefits of addressing Rhode Island’s physician shortage outweigh these hurdles,” according to the draft report. “URI’s strong alignment with healthcare partners and support from state government initiatives position the university strategically to overcome these barriers and establish a transformative medical education program that serves the state’s future healthcare needs.”
The study was funded by $150,000 approved in February by the Joint Committee on Legislative Services, the hiring and spending arm of the General Assembly.
The legislative commission studying establishing a med school at URI is due to make a recommendation by December 20.
