Virginia Plans Fifth Medical School

rVirginia officials have confirmed their interest in establishing a new state-supported medical school, the fifth one in that state.

The school would be a partnership between Virginia Tech and Carilion Health System and would be built somewhere in the Roanoke region.

Virginia is presently home to three state-supported medical schools and one private medical school. State officials are concerned that the existing schools are not able to train enough physicians to keep pace with the healthcare needs of Virginia's growing and aging population.

Source: "Kaine to Announce Plans for a 5th Medical School in Virginia," by Sue Lindsey, AP (Roanoke, VA), January 2, 2007