Education for a Healthier Minnesota

Access to quality healthcare shouldn’t be limited by your zip code

CentraCare and the University of Minnesota Medical School are exploring a stronger relationship to realize their shared vision to improve the health of Greater Minnesota residents and to address the shortage of medical professionals in Minnesota’s small towns and rural communities.

Collaborating in pursuit of better health for Minnesotans is not new for these two organizations. The Medical School and CentraCare have several long-standing relationships, including a family medicine residency, an orthopedics practice, and a new rural training track grant. Together, the two organizations have a history of collaborating to provide superior clinical care and educating future physicians to meet the needs of cities and towns of all sizes. An expanded relationship would build upon this foundation.

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Our Vision:

A Healthy Rural Minnesota

For more than a century, CentraCare and the University of Minnesota Medical School have each cared for Minnesotans across the state. And for decades, we’ve done so together. Through the University of Minnesota/CentraCare St. Cloud Family Residency Program and other collaborations, together we have educated and trained many physicians who now serve our rural communities.

We imagine a day, not far away, when excellent access to physicians—no matter where in Minnesota you live—is the norm. We see a time when the quality of care is equally superb in our largest metropolitan areas and our smallest town. All Minnesotans deserve the best.

“This is going to be incredibly important, not just for healthcare, not just for training physicians who will practice in rural Minnesota, but for the society in general.”
Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD
Dean, U of M Medical School

While 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural communities, only 11% of physicians practice in such areas.

Rural Americans are at greater risk of death from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic respiratory disease, and stroke.

“If not us, who? And if not now, when? There will never be a better time than today for the University and CentraCare to serve the health needs of rural Minnesotans.”
Ken Holmen, MD
President & CEO, CentraCare

News & Media

KARE11

St. Cloud to get medical school campus

December 19, 2023

KSTP

Signing ceremony in St. Cloud celebrates U of M Medical School expansion

December 18, 2023

CBS News Minnesota

U of M Medical School, CentraCare mark historic campus expansion in St. Cloud

December 18, 2023

CBS News Minnesota

The numbers behind U of M’s medical school expansion—including how your tax dollars are being spent

December 18, 2023

WJON

Signing Ceremony Held for Future St. Cloud Medical School

December 18, 2023

KNSI

Signing Ceremony For New St. Cloud Med School Occasion to Celebrate

December 18, 2023

See all news & media coverage

Frequently Asked Questions

What would a CentraCare / U of M Medical School relationship look like?

We are in early discussions, and specifics of the relationship have not been solidified. Once they are, they will need to be reviewed and approved by the CentraCare Board of Directors and the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

Would a new facility be built?

Because we are in the early phase of exploration, it is too early to know facility needs. CentraCare and the University of Minnesota Medical School are committed to providing all medical students with the resources they need to become highly skilled clinicians. If the project is approved by the CentraCare Board of Directors and University of Minnesota Board of Regents, careful assessment of facility needs will be made and a plan will be developed to fulfill those needs.

Who would benefit from this initiative?

The residents of Greater Minnesota would be the largest beneficiaries of more medical education opportunities in the region. Communities across the state would have access to more physicians who are trained in rural medicine and would also have access to leading clinical research protocols. In addition, CentraCare and the University of Minnesota Medical School both benefit by advancing their goals of improving the health of rural Minnesotans.

When would the first class of medical students start?

This project is subject to review and approval by the CentraCare Board of Directors and the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. Therefore, we are unable to offer definitive dates. However, our desired start date for medical students is fall 2025.

About CentraCare

Since 1886, CentraCare has served the health care needs of St. Cloud and surrounding rural communities. Today, CentraCare has eight largely rural-based hospitals, more than 30 clinics, and serves more than 700,000 people in Central, West Central and Southwest Minnesota. It has received multiple national recognitions for being among the best 100 hospitals in the U.S. and has achieved the Magnet Award for Excellence in Nursing four times – an accomplishment only attained by fewer than 50 hospitals in the world.

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About U of M Medical School

Through many rural-focused programs, the University of Minnesota Medical School has been preparing physicians to practice in rural Minnesota communities for 135 years. Its Duluth campus was founded 50 years ago with a specific focus on rural and Native American health. The University has achieved national recognition for its excellence in preparing physicians of the future, ranking #3 among U.S. medical schools for Primary Care education, #4 for Family Medicine, and #19 for most graduates practicing in rural areas, according to the 2023 US New and World Report rankings.

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