A wave of new medical schools has opened across the country in recent years, and more are in the planning stages. For health system leaders, each represents a rare opportunity to address one of the industry’s most pressing long-term threats.
The U.S. is projected to face a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. New medical schools will not solve that problem on their own. But how quickly and strategically health systems move to build relationships with them could determine whether those schools become a meaningful part of their physician pipeline — or someone else’s.
In fall 2026, classes will begin at the first new medical school to open in Chicago in 100 years; the Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine is also the first osteopathic medical school in the city. In May, Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health and Santa Clara (Calif.) University shared plans to launch the Mark & Mary Stevens School of Medicine in the Bay Area, which will be the first new medical school in the area offering Doctorate of Medicine degrees in more than a century. In late May, Stockton, Calif.-based University of the Pacific announced plans to open the Pacific School of Medicine.
And in Delaware, a partnership announced June 2 between the state and Philadelphia-based Thomas Jefferson University will create Delaware’s first four-year medical school through a regional campus of Sidney Kimmel Medical College Delaware currently is one of only three states without an MD- or DO-granting institution.
So what should health system leaders do first? The answer, across systems of different sizes and markets, is consistent: Move early, build the relationship before the students arrive and think beyond medical school to where residents will train.
A medical school opening nearby is an opportunity to consider the workforce needs of the region and how the school could help address physician shortages, according to Vineet Arora, MD, dean for medical education at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
“Interestingly, the data is strongest for residency programs: Where you train is highly predictive of where you practice,” Dr. Arora told Becker’s. “So for the new medical school to have an impact in a region, it’s important to consider the training sites not only for the new students, but also where they will train for residency.”
That creates an opening for systems that have not traditionally been teaching hospitals.
“The greatest opportunity for new schools is often at hospitals that have not traditionally been a teaching hospital in partnering to support the clinical training of their students and ultimately also see the school as a workforce pipeline for their practice,” she said.
Chicago-based Cook County Health’s first step is building partnerships that create clear pathways from education into careers through clinical training and mentorship opportunities, CEO Erik Mikaitis, MD, told Becker’s. A new program is also an opportunity to expand enrollment for students from historically underserved communities who reflect the diversity of the patient population, he said.
“Studies show that a representative workforce helps build trust, enhances patient care, and supports better health outcomes,” Dr. Mikaitis said. “By investing in local students and connecting them to educational opportunities, we can strengthen our workforce pipeline, as well as regional economic vitality and our mission to achieve health equity.”
At Evanston, Ill.-based Endeavor Health, the first move is to build a partnership with the school’s leadership, grounded in a shared commitment to community health, Chief Physician Executive Sanjeeb Khatua, MD, told Becker’s.
“By creating early and accessible clinical opportunities, we invest in students from our own communities, which helps ensure that when patients see their care teams, they also see themselves,” Dr. Khatua said.
Establishing strong partnerships early is an important first step, according to Saba Habis, MD, clinical professor of medicine and associate division chief medical officer for Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare’s Far West division. Building those connections creates a pipeline that helps students recognize the benefits of practicing in the community, ultimately helping keep care close to home, Dr. Habis told Becker’s.
In Delaware, where the new medical school announcement is still fresh, health systems have been laying groundwork for years. Dover-based Bayhealth launched residency programs in 2019, and the results are already tangible.
“Over the past three years, residents have helped care for nearly 100,000 patients — expanding appointment availability, supporting care teams and improving access to services,” President and CEO Terry Murphy told Becker’s. “The Delaware Medical School will help create even more opportunities for students and physicians to learn, grow and ultimately care for patients right here in Delaware.”
Lewes, Del.-based Beebe Healthcare has been involved in shaping the school since its earliest stages, President and CEO David Tam, MD, told Becker’s. He pointed to a recent milestone as evidence of what a long-term pipeline strategy can look like in practice.
“This week, Beebe’s first family medicine residency class graduated, and every physician has committed to caring for patients in Sussex County,” Dr. Tam said. “Just like the medical school announcement, it was a historic event for our 110-year-old nonprofit, rural community healthcare system.”
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