DAVID WAHLBERG | Wisconsin State Journal | dwahlberg@madison.com | 608-252-6125 madison.com | | Posted: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 5:30 pm

The main backer of a proposed osteopathic medical school in Wausau dropped the plan Tuesday, but another organizer vowed to keep pursuing the idea.

Aspirus, a Wausau-based health system, said its plan to pay for and own the $75 million Wisconsin College of Osteopathic Medicine with four other health systems "was not viable" because of competing business interests.

"There was an inconsistency between the best interests of the school and students, and the best interests of the competing health care systems," said Sid Sczygelski, chief financial officer of Aspirus.

Dr. Gregg Silberg, dean of the proposed school, said he is "working with a number of different supporters" to "aggressively move forward" on other plans for the school.

"We're looking at Wausau specifically," Silberg said. "We feel that's the right place to be."

Aspirus and the osteopathic school organization announced their plan for the school in November. In January, the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee said it was looking at putting "community-based medical school components" in one or more regions of the state.

A Wisconsin Hospital Association report in November predicted a shortage of nearly 2,200 doctors by 2030, especially in primary care.

Dr. Robert Golden, dean of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, criticized the proposed osteopathic school, saying it would cost more than expanding the two existing medical schools.

Sczygelski said Aspirus and the four other health systems, which he wouldn't name, would have paid $10 million each and borrowed $25 million to build and equip the osteopathic school.

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Health system nixes plan for new osteopathic medical school in Wausau