Governor Jay Inslee Signs WSU Medical School Bill – What’s Next?

WSU Medical School Bill Signing

Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation today that allows WSU to operate a medical school in Spokane. This is a great day for WSU, Spokane and the entire state. As the Governor was signing, the audience around him broke out into a nice rendition of the WSU fight song – a fitting way to celebrate.

The legislation – officially House Bill 1559 – changes a 1917 law that restricted medical education solely to the University of Washington.

It’s been a long road to this point. So what comes next?

As President Elson Floyd wrote, we will start the accreditation process within the week and will begin the search for a founding dean.

In Olympia, the legislature will soon begin budget negotiations. The proposed House and Senate budgets both have funding allocated to a WSU medical school. The two chambers will negotiate a final budget to be signed by Governor Inslee.

The legislation signed today allows for a WSU medical school, but the effects of such a school reach deeper. A WSU medical school….

  • Creates more opportunities for our state’s aspiring doctors to study close to home;
  • Helps the state fill the need for doctors in rural and underserved regions; and
  • Creates an economic impact that begins in Spokane and spreads throughout the state.

As always, visit medicine.wsu.edu for more information and join us as we continue this journey.