Provo Mayor Signs Property Title Transfer Clearing Path to Proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
October 9, 2018
Developer obtains property title; design and construction on new
East Bay Golf holes to begin
PROVO, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#NCOM–Following an extensive and productive process working with the Provo
Mayor’s office, Provo Municipal Council and other involved parties to
approve and obtain the location for the proposed Noorda College of
Osteopathic Medicine (NCOM), Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi signed a title
transfer to the developer for Wasatch Educational to acquire the
property.
The proposed medical school site location is on approximately 21 acres
of the northwestern portion of the East Bay Golf Course, which was
approved as surplus property by the Provo Municipal Council in January.
An additional 7.8-acre contiguous parcel was purchased by the developer
from a private source to expand the site location.
Under the agreement, the developers of the proposed medical education
campus, which will include the proposed NCOM campus as well as the
relocated Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions campus, will
fund relocation costs of three current golf holes to the southeastern
portion of the course. These new holes will be designed, relocated and
playable before construction on the proposed medical education campus
begins possibly by the end of 2018.
“This is an exciting time for Provo,” said Dr. John J. Dougherty,
founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer of NCOM. “We are grateful for
the work of Mayor Kaufusi, the Provo Municipal Council and City
Administration to make this all come together for the benefit of the
people of Provo and Utah. This planned medical education campus will
give the students the opportunity to pursue whatever specialty they
choose in medicine helping to address the growing medical shortages
throughout the state.”
“Provo is a college town through and through,” said Kaufusi. “Education
is at the heart of what we’re all about here. So, I’m very excited about
the addition of a proposed medical school here in Provo.”
One of the critical goals of the proposed medical school is to recruit,
train, and retain students in Utah. “Our plan is to have no less than 50
percent of our enrolled students from or with ties to Utah,” said
Dougherty.
Along with other medical schools in Utah, the proposed NCOM would supply
doctors to help offset a growing physician shortage. Research from the
Utah Medical Association Council estimates that Utah will need
approximately 375 new physicians each year to meet increasing access to
healthcare needs. In 2015, the American Medical Association ranked Utah
49th in primary care physicians to population ratio and 43rd in overall
physicians to population ratios.
Named after the Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation, who funded a significant
portion of the money for the project, the proposed Noorda College of
Osteopathic Medicine is positioned to be a premier, world-class medical
education and research institution. The proposed curriculum will be a
new hybrid based on some of the most innovative and progressive medical
education programs in North America designed to prepare physicians to
provide high-quality healthcare with a focus on wellness.
The Noorda financial commitment, along with a significant funding
commitment from the developer, provides the majority of the funds needed
for construction and operation of the proposed Noorda College of
Osteopathic Medicine.
“The proposed NCOM will not cost the taxpayers a penny and may make a
large economic impact to the county each year,” said Dougherty.
According to a recent independent economic impact study by Bonneville
Research, the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine could
potentially provide more than $62 million in the construction business,
236 construction-related jobs and bring more than 121
institution-related employment positions to the county. It may attract
other health, medical, biomedical, biotechnology, retail, and related
spin-off businesses.
In a later phase, a new Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
campus will be built adjacent to the proposed medical institution. At
full operation, the local economic impact of the combined schools could
be approximately $100 million annually and could include 1,500 jobs with
more than $83 million in the construction business. All of this may
increase the property tax base including an estimated $8 million
directed to the Provo School District in the first 15 years.
The development plans include significant green space in and around the
proposed medical education campus, creating a park-like atmosphere to
protect and preserve the environment, nature, wildlife, and birdlife.
“Preserving the natural beauty and environment of the existing East Bay
Golf Course and that wildlife and birdlife is undisturbed is one of our
highest priorities,” said Dougherty. “We intend to have lots of green
space, walking trails, biking trails, and preserving the existing golf
course waterways as we design the proposed medical education campus.”
Photos available here.
About the proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
The proposed Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine would be an
independent and freestanding institution overseen by a governing board
located in Provo, Utah.
Founded and located in Provo, Utah in June 1998, Wasatch Educational
will manage the development of the proposed Noorda College of
Osteopathic Medicine. www.wasatcheducational.com.
Wasatch Educational is the holding company of Rocky Mountain University
of Health Professions. The mission of Wasatch Educational is to promote
and develop healthcare education institutions.
Contacts
Maloy PR
A. Cory Maloy
801-877-3112
cory@maloypr.com