Medical school to open on NMSU campus

According to Governor Susana Martinez, the school was created to specifically address New Mexico’s need for doctors. It will be the state’s second medical school.

Dan Burrell, the Chief Investor of the project, said it will eventually help the most underserved areas of New Mexico.

“This program, this school is specifically designed to address those needs,” Burrell said.

Dr. Sergio Huerta, an osteopath in Las Cruces, expects a boom in the number of doctors according to Dr. Huerta, medical students tend to stay and practice in the state they study in.

“I think there will be a lot of students who eventually do their residencies here and stay in NM, hopefully in the small rural towns,”Dr. Huerta said.

A potential “boom” would help ease the state’s dire need for doctors. According to Governor Martinez, New Mexico is what’s called a ‘healthcare professional shortage area.’

“Thirty-one counties have been designated as having a shortage of doctors, out of 33 counties,” Governor Martinez said.

According to Burrell, the project has been in the works for the last two years and became official in May.

Burrell expects the school to be around for decades under a 60-year ground lease.

“To put high-qualified physicians into the workforce and to keep them in the southern part of the state,” Burrell said.

Burrell expects the school will create 400 permanent jobs and bring in more than 7 million dollars a year into New Mexico’s economy.

The school will be located across the Arrowhead Park Early College High School at NMSU.