Nova Southeastern University plans to create a new medical school, offering traditional medical degrees at its North Miami Beach campus.

NSU's new College of Allopathic Medicine, or M.D. program, will complement its existing doctor of osteopathic medicine program, which is often described as a more holistic approach to patient care, officials said. The new medical school is designed to help meet a pending physician shortage in the state.

It would be South Florida's fourth traditional medical school, joining the University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University's medical school, which opened in 2011, and Florida International University's school, which opened in 2009.

Two state health groups recently released a report identifying a physician shortage of about 7,000 by 2025, particularly in psychiatry and several surgical fields.

NSU says it will be the only university in the Southeast and the first in Florida to house both an osteopathic medical school and an allopathic medical school. NSU President George Hanbury said the program will be modeled after Michigan State University, which already offers both degrees.

"Competition is a good thing, so the development of another high quality institution for medical education would potentially benefit the area," said Linda Quick, president of the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Quick said the area is most in need of new physician residencies, rather than full medical schools, since studies show doctors are most likely to stay in the communities where they perform their residency. But she said new residency spots usually come with new medical schools.

The three existing traditional medical schools, as well as NSU's osteopathic program, all get thousands of applicants for hundreds of spots.

The new NSU program, slated to accept its first 50 students in 2017, plans to serve about 125 students within its first four years. It will be housed at the old Southeastern University of the Health Sciences at 1750 NE 167th St, North Miami Beach, not the main campus in Davie.

Nova bought the university in 1994 and moved the osteopathic programs to Davie. The campus has remained open, but underused, housing the College of Education and several health clinics, officials said.

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NSU adding a traditional medical school