MIAMI (AP) - University of Miami officials say the medical school is planning to lay off as many as 800 people.

UM President Donna Shalala told The Miami Herald (http://bit.ly/Ju2nBc ) Tuesday that the move will better prepare the school for the future.

Shalala says state budget cuts, reduced funds for research, cuts in compensation from insurers and cutbacks in payments by Jackson Health System have made the changes necessary. She says said some medical school employees will be let go, but may be rehired after restructuring of departments. Some will retire and others will accept severance packages. Shalala says no doctors or nurses who provide clinical care would be affected.

Those laid off will be notified this month. The reduction amounts to 8% of the medical center's 10,000-person workforce.

Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com

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UM medical school plans to lay off 800 people