A detailed plan is being developed for the proposed new college of medicine on the Urbana campus and is expected to be presented soon to the Urbana-Champaign Senate for consideration.
Chancellor Phyllis M. Wise updated the Senate Executive Committee at its July 22 meeting on the status of the project, providing members with a concept proposal for an independently accredited college of medicine in partnership with Carle Health System.
Developing the partnership would require the formation of a joint advisory committee, headed by Wise and the CEO of Carle, as well as accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
Under the proposal, the college would follow the structure outlined in the U. of I. statutes, with a dean and elected executive committee, as do other academic units on campus. Committees appointed by the provost currently are working on those details, as well as an in-depth business plan, with the hope that students could be accepted as soon as 2017.
The medical college plan calls for revenue generated through tuition, grants and contracts, clinical revenue donations and research commercialization.
Preliminary estimates show annual operation costs would be about $22 million, with about $100 million needed in initial startup costs for the medical school. The school will neither request additional general revenue funds from the state nor compete for current campus funds.
What would make the medical venture unique is its focus on research through the already highly ranked U. of I. College of Engineering.
“It will be the first college of medicine in the world expressly focused at the intersection of engineering, technology, big data and health care,” Wise said. “The U. of I. is uniquely positioned to leverage these strengths to lead the transformation of health care research, education, practice and delivery.”
Ilesanmi Adesida, the vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost, said the unique focus of the college could change the way medicine is practiced.
“The proposed college of medicine will allow us to provide unparalleled medical education that will train physician-scientists, physician-discoverers, physician-inventors and practicing physicians who will produce innovations in preventive care, diagnosis, treatment, therapies and cures,” he said.
Wise and Adesida said the college would create other cross-disciplinary opportunities.
“A college of medicine will increase the impact, visibility, respect and rankings for our campus,” Wise said. “This in turn will enhance our ability to attract and retain outstanding faculty, staff and students across the campus with expertise and interests in all disciplines.”
SEC members unanimously supported the continuation of the process to formally propose the establishment of the new college. The same approval process will be followed as for any other academic proposal, including a formal proposal to the Senate’s educational policy committee, a public hearing and consideration by the entire campus senate.
