Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota Medical School has opened a regional campus in St. Cloud in partnership with CentraCare Health, a St. Cloud-based system, according to the medical school’s Facebook page. The new campus represents the medical school’s first expansion in more than 50 years.
Six things to know:
1. On July 27, CentraCare and the University of Minnesota held a Community Open House celebrating the campus’ grand opening.
2. The campus will expand the medical school’s class by 24 students annually, beginning this academic year, according to a 2023 university news release announcing the expansion. By 2029, the medical school expects to educate 96 students, boosting class size by 10%.
3. CentraCare contributed and funded renovation of a former office building for the project, and the state legislature provided $10 million in funding, according to Minnesota Public Radio. CentraCare also built a housing complex near the regional campus for students and their families.
4. “This new regional campus represents a significant step forward in expanding access to high-quality medical education and healthcare in central Minnesota,” Ken Holmen, MD, CEO and president of CentraCare, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to welcome the community to be part of this historic moment.”
5. Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD, dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School, said in a statement: “We’re incredibly proud of this expansion, which wouldn’t be possible without our partnership with CentraCare and the support of the community. Together, we’re training more physicians in innovative ways to serve rural Minnesota — combining academic excellence with community-based care.”
6. The previous expansion occurred in 1972, when the medical school built its Duluth campus.
