SBC Research Production

[Turbine]

Lately when people ask me why doesn't Louisiana.edu have a medical school? I say..

"Their R one"

They think I've answered the question..

[CajunFun]

Call me naive, but I still cannot understand why in a community that is focused so much on the health care of the region, there is not a medical school at UL. It seems that the demand for GPs is really great in rural areas of Louisiana, and a medical school at UL would be a natural fit.

You've lived here how long? And you're asking that question?

There are two answers, and you know them both. One is price, the second is politics.

However, it is no secret that T-Joe has been working on a med school for a long time. I am hearing conflicting reports about how close we are.

But I would remind everyone that the next governor is one of our alums, and this is his base. There would be a lot wins for him if we were to land a med school here.

[Crawfish]

The thing that is different now than in the past is the proliferation of all of these for profit medical schools, like the one in Monroe. There must be a need for this that is not being met. With all of the new facilities coming on line (like the old OLOL hospital) it would seem like the money for this would be doable. But yes, I get the politics involved.

[Turbine]

The thing that is different now than in the past is the proliferation of all of these for profit medical schools, like the one in Monroe.

The "for profit" med schools exist because they saw a void, or a need for.

Somebody dropped the ball, somebody picked it up.

[ZoomZoom]

The "for profit" med schools exist because they saw a void, or a need for.

Somebody dropped the ball, somebody picked it up.

And LSU Med had to bless the private med schools. It’s why UL doesn’t want one.

[Crawfish]

I wasn't implying that UL needed to host a for profit medical school, only that it demonstrates the need for a real medical school at UL.

[Turbine]

I wasn't implying that UL needed to host a for profit medical school, only that it demonstrates the need for a real medical school at UL.

Absolutely

[CajunFun]

The thing that is different now than in the past is the proliferation of all of these for profit medical schools, like the one in Monroe. There must be a need for this that is not being met. With all of the new facilities coming on line (like the old OLOL hospital) it would seem like the money for this would be doable. But yes, I get the politics involved.

From what I'm hearing, ULM is getting NOTHING out of that arrangement. In fact, my sources say they approached us first.

We're going to hold out for a real medical school, not a for-profit... something we control and which boosts our mission and our prestige.

[CajunFun]

The "for profit" med schools exist because they saw a void, or a need for.

Somebody dropped the ball, somebody picked it up.

Not really. Somebody sat back and realized that, by cutting out the heart and soul of a university, by cutting the hard-to-valuate-but-essential aspects of a university, or a medical school, they could make a lot of money.

And here's the thing that bothers me: as soon as an industry can be shown profitable, big investors swoop in, buy it up, and squeeze it to make even more money, and putrefy it, eliminate the mission, and make the world worse than it was before.