The University of Dubuque is creating a new medical school, expanding its nursing and physician assistant programs to include a College of Osteopathic Medicine.
The University of Dubuque President Travis Frampton has been in his position since June 2024, joining the already years-long discussion on opening a new college. He says the main reason for opening a new medical school in Iowa in over 125 years is the growing decline of physicians.
"And when I first arrived, I actually was somewhat skeptical that there was that much demand or need for medical school students, in this area," Frampton said in a phone interview with WVIK on Friday Dec. 13th. "I had seen some of their projections and just wanted to do my own research just to verify before I got myself involved in this like I have. And come to find out, I was able to see exactly what they were seeing."
In a March 2024 study titled 'The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections from 2021 to 2036,' the Association of American Medical Colleges found that the United States is expected to face a shortage of between 13,500 and 86,000 physicians by 2036.
President Frampton says the university is pursuing a College of Osteopathic Medicine specifically because it aligns with the university's values. "And so the School of Osteopathic Medicine really focuses a lot on looking at the entire patient's profile, mind, heart, and soul, so to speak, in terms of talking about wellness and plans for treatment," Frampton said. "So they do treat a symptom, but they want to study that within the entire body. And then also that person or the patient located in the community. So you can imagine that environmental causes could lead to some illnesses or symptoms."
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the state's senior Senator, Chuck Grassley, were in attendance. Alice and John Butler, who are donating $60 million to start the new college, which will be named after them, were also present. The donation is one of the largest in UD's history.
In a news release, Butler says, "Alice and I are very pleased to be able to provide this gift to the University of Dubuque towards establishing a college of medicine. It will serve as a continuation of the incredible things that the University has been doing for a many, many years," Butler said. According to the release, Butler is the longest-serving member of the UD Board of Trustees, having served nearly five decades on the board. His son, Andrew Butler, also serves on the UD Board of Trustees.
President Frampton says a portion of the $60 million gift will be used to fund scholarships. The college will offer $25 million in endowed scholarships to potential students living in Dubuque County and rural Iowa.
"That's $25 million of endowed scholarship funds going to support students in Iowa who want to go to medical school," Frampton said. "So I think that is a tremendous opportunity for us as a school, as a region, and as a state, to really start leaning into providing doctors for rural communities in Iowa."
Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh says the announcement is wonderful news for the city in a news release after the event. "I want to first congratulate the University of Dubuque on taking this momentous step forward. Not only will the addition of this program be a great boost for UD as an institution, it will also make a real and lasting impact in our city," Cavanagh said in a news release. "Our community will welcome many more students, strengthen our workforce and healthcare community, and add tremendous energy and vibrancy to the core of our downtown."
President Frampton says the university is looking to build the college in downtown Dubuque because of the economic benefits to the city, the potential student body size of 800 and bringing the university back to its roots.
"But for me, it was a way for the university to kind of, in spirit, go back to its beginnings. The university started in downtown Dubuque. It's a homecoming of sorts," Frampton said. "But it also is a way of, you know, locating the medical school in a place where I think it will help put students in an area where they can see both the needs of urban and rural Iowa."
The university is searching for the inaugural dean of the proposed college. Currently, it is working with the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and hopes to open the John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine in the summer of 2028.
