UNC medical school could be a win-win for northern Colorado

The bill that would open the door to the University of Northern Colorado to have its own medical school was introduced in the state Senate on Jan. 18.

Senate Bill 56 is sponsored by Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, and Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo. In the House, the sponsors are Reps. Mary Young, D-Greeley, and Perry Will, R-New Castle.

The bill would allow UNC to open an osteopathic medical school. According to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, that’s a medical practice that is a “patient-centered, holistic, hands-on approach to diagnosing and treating illness and injury,” and that can also include nontraditional treatment.

Osteopaths view all body systems as interrelated. That’s in contrast to allopathic or more traditional medicine, which is focused on treating the symptoms of the disease with medications and diagnostic procedures like X-rays and blood tests. Osteopaths are licensed as physicians and can practice in any area, including surgery, and prescribe medication.

UNC commissioned a feasibility study last year that recommended the university move forward with the new medical school, citing an aging physician workforce and that the state needs more primary care physicians than can be provided by existing medical schools.

Colorado has two medical schools: the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora and the for-profit Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker.

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