BY KELLIE SCHMITT Californian staff writer kschmitt@bakersfield.com Tuesday, May 29 2012 03:26 PM

Kern County supervisors unanimously approved a unique proposal to give Ross University in the Caribbean the vast majority of Kern Medical Center's student rotation slots in exchange for $35 million over 10 years.

"This provides KMC and Ross the ability to enhance their program offerings," said Supervisor Ray Watson. "In the long term, this will be good for the health of Kern County. I think it's a step forward both financially and in terms of the education we can provide."

The new arrangement will give Ross, which is located on the island of Dominica, about 100 medical school rotations. Medical students typically spend their first two years focusing on academics and their last two rotating through hospitals to learn clinical expertise under close supervision.

They are different from the residents at KMC, who study a specialty there after graduating from medical school.

While California-based medical schools have affiliations with nearby hospitals that allow free student rotations, Caribbean schools often pay to allow their students to train in the United States.

It's tough for offshore schools like Ross to secure rotations in U.S. hospitals, especially in California, the home of nearly 18 percent of its students. That's why officials were willing to dole out $35 million, the highest amount the school has ever offered a hospital for rotations, officials said.

"We thought we could provide something good for U.S. students and the community," said Ross Dean Joseph Flaherty.

While Caribbean schools have a reputation for attracting students who can't get in to U.S. schools, KMC CEO Paul Hensler said Ross' test scores and students are highly competitive; there just aren't enough medical school slots nationwide.

And, since there likely won't be a medical school in the Central Valley anytime soon, a close affiliation with a top Caribbean school is a good option for funneling physicians into Kern County, Hensler said.

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Supervisors approve $35 million deal with Caribbean medical school