The University of Montana in Missoula has proposed a health and medicine initiative designed to help address the state's medical workforce needs, according to a Montana Public Radio report.
Here are four things to know about the proposed initiative.
1. The initiative would potentially offer two new degree programs for high school graduates wanting to go into occupational therapy, or become a physician assistant.
2. The new programs would likely require hiring new faculty members, and include two-year certificate opportunities at Missoula College, according to the report.
3. Reed Humphrey, dean of University of Montana's college of health professions and biomedical science, estimates the new occupational therapist and physician assistant degree programs could cost $1 million to launch, and would probably serve 60 to 80 students, according to the report. He noted that these numbers are preliminary.
4. The University of Montana plans to bring feasibility studies to university system regents for consideration.
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