The timely debate surrounding the wisdom of a new University of Arizona medical school in downtown Phoenix is also an opportunity to shine a light on one of the best kept secrets in Arizona: Midwestern University.

For years our private medical school and related programs at our $80 million campus in Glendale have been a health care engine for the Valley and our state.

In collaboration and combination with the proposed medical school in downtown Phoenix, they offer state leaders magnificent opportunities to address doctor shortages and other medical needs critical to Arizona’s future quality of life.

Midwestern University was founded more than 100 years ago in Illinois. In the early 1990s we decided to start a medical school and other health care programs in Arizona. We understood how great the needs in this dynamic, expanding community would be.

Our 138-acre campus opened in 1995. Since that time we have graduated 675 physicians and on June 3 we will graduate 129 medical students. After serving their residencies at such institutions as Georgetown, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, Maricopa Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, John C. Lincoln Network and Scottsdale Healthcare, they will open practices right here in Arizona as well as across the country. In late August we will welcome our incoming class of 150 medical students.

Our students pass all of the same national examinations and tests as other medical schools. They are among the best of the best and just because there is a “D.O.” after their name rather than “M.D.” won’t make a difference when that doctor helps a child suffering from an illness or a family member that requires brain surgery. Osteopathic physicians (D.O.) receive training in osteopathic manipulative medicine in addition to the same medical education that an allopathic physician receives (M.D.).

In addition to our medical school, we will graduate 120 pharmacists from our College of Pharmacy this year. Arizona, as well as the country, has an acute shortage of pharmacists.

We also have outstanding graduate programs for physician assistants, occupational therapists, perfusionists, nurse anesthesia and biomedical sciences.

Most recently we launched a podiatric medicine program. It will be the newest national program to be established in the past 15 years. There is a particular need for these services in Arizona with its significant senior and Native American populations.

Our 1,300 students, 250-member faculty and staff and a $40 million operating budget are making a difference in Arizona today.

But what about tomorrow’s challenges?

There are two steps that Governor Napolitano, the Legislature and Midwestern University can take immediately to help Arizona in the short-term and long-term.

First, we have had difficulty gaining access to certain hospitals for our students. This is not good for Arizona. We need this access for medical students and their medical residencies because it will keep more of our students in Arizona and encourage them to establish their medical practice here. As importantly, it will allow us to increase our class size, which means more doctors for Arizona.

Second, the state of Illinois has an excellent grant program for interested medical students that encourages them to enroll at Illinois schools. State leaders know that those who attend Illinois medical schools are more likely to stay there and take care of Illinois families when their studies are over. Establishing a similar grant program for Arizona students would be an inexpensive, effective and expeditious way to start addressing doctor shortages.

This leads to my final point about the proposed medical school in downtown Phoenix: It is a good idea.

More medical schools mean more Arizonans will have the opportunity to study in Arizona and eventually serve Arizona. The new school needs to have a good business plan. It also needs the enthusiastic help and support from Mayor Phil Gordon and the City of Phoenix just as we received similar backing from Mayor Elaine Scruggs and the City of Glendale. —

Dr. Goeppinger is president & chief executive officer at Midwestern University in Glendale.