A third medical school in the state is being proposed for Wausau. Wausau-based Aspirus and the Wisconsin College of Osteopathic Medicine are doing a feasibility study looking at the possibility of adding the state’s third medical school. College dean Dr. Gregg Silberg said Wausau is a good choice because of its central location. “It gives easy access to more rural and undeserved areas of the state,” Silberg said.
AUDIO: WSAU’s Matt Lehman reports (:32)
Developers will decide what to do when they finish the feasibility study this spring. Both sides are already working with other health care providers and would need to find money and a location for the school. “If that occurs, then we would be looking at a development phase of the school over the next 18 to 24 months,” Silberg said.
Aspirus chief financial officer Sczygelski said he and other officials have been talking about the school for the last six months. Wisconsin already has two medical schools – the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison. Wednesday’s announcement in Wausau came one day after the release of a report by the Wisconsin Hospital Association which claims that Wisconsin is on pace to having a shortage of more than 2,000 doctors by the year 2030.
