Christopher DeVargas

NSHE Chancellor Dan Klaich speaks with the Sun Editorial Board, Tuesday Aug. 20,2013.

By Paul Takahashi (contact)

Friday, March 7, 2014 | 1:55 p.m.

Nevadas higher education leaders are reconsidering the accreditation process for a proposed new UNLV medical school amid concerns about losing donor support from Southern Nevadans.

When regents approved an agreement to create a UNLV medical school in November, they outlined plans for a partnership between UNR and UNLV for a new public, M.D.-granting medical school in Las Vegas.

Initial plans called for UNLV to use the University of Nevada School of Medicines accreditation to kick-start a Southern Nevada medical school. Eventually, the UNLV medical would become independently accredited.

Now, though, some question whether Southern Nevada philanthropists will support a medical school in Las Vegas affiliated with UNR.

We are not buying a second UNR medical school in Las Vegas, Lindy Schumacher, director of Nevada giving for the Lincy Foundation, wrote in an op-ed published in the Sun. I believe (University of Nevada School of Medicine Dean Thomas) Schwenk would find a pool of donors in Las Vegas if he were asking for gifts for a UNLV Las Vegas-based medical school, and not simply a branch of the UNR medical school.

Amid concerns about losing donations that could help build a UNLV medical school, a statewide steering committee today recommended to the Board of Regents that UNLV pursue a separate accreditation process without assistance from UNR.

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Regents may shift gears on UNLV med school plans to appeal to Southern Nevada donors