Did you know that 90% of Missouri’s counties lack adequate access to health care professionals or that Missouri ranks among the top 20 states with residents older than 65? By 2030, people over 65 will represent 1/5 of all Missourians.
To address this aging population and critical physician shortage, the University of Missouri formed a unique partnership with Mercy Springfield, CoxHealth, and Missouri State University to create the University of Missouri Clinical Program in Springfield. Butler, Rosenbury & Partners worked with the landlord to the University and collaborated closely with medical school administration to design the Springfield Clinical Campus offices.
The building was previously used as a law office. BR&P worked to convert the space into faculty offices and a multipurpose space, which is mostly being used as a testing center for the students. The renovation also focused on updating the former lawyer offices, as well as a significant reconfiguration of the center of the building to accommodate the multipurpose space. New finishes included paint, floor covering, and the insides of the two existing restrooms, one of which was expanded.
The program is expected to grow rapidly. Nine students began their last two years of school training in Springfield this year. By 2017, 32 additional medical students will be admitted into the program, and by 2020, 64 third and fourth year students will be in Springfield. It is estimated that after they graduate, 55 to 60% of these students will stay and practice in Southwest Missouri.
The impact will be felt for years to come. The Springfield Clinical Campus is part of MU’s larger medical school expansion in Columbia. The expansion is expected to create more than 3,500 new jobs and add $390 million in annual economic activity to the state. Over the next 20 years, it is projected to provide another 300 physicians for Missouri.
If you have an education (college or K-12) project let us know. Give us a call at 417-865-6100, or check out our website www.brpae.com for more information.