U of M, CentraCare Discuss New Medical School to Focus on Rural Health

January 19, 2023

The University of Minnesota and CentraCare are in discussions to create a new medical school that would focus on rural health.  

The school, which would open in 2025, would be based in St. Cloud. The plan needs approval from the university's Board of Regents. 

The partnership comes out of a desire to address the growing shortage of medical professionals in rural areas of the state. Rural patients have limited access to care, have to wait longer for appointments, travel further for care and have reduced services at clinics and hospitals. 

The U of M opened its Duluth campus in 1972 to focus on rural health. 

Latest News

MN Attorney General Launches Project to Strengthen Rural Maternal Healthcare

October 29, 2026

On October 28, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a new project called “Strengthening Rural Maternal Healthcare in Minnesota,” which is designed to propose solutions to the increasing problem of lack of nearby access to maternal healthcare, especially labor and delivery services for people in Greater Minnesota.  

MNCM Expands Scope into HIE; Rebrands as MNSHINE

October 29, 2026

MN Community Measurement (MNCM) has announced plans to expand the scope of its work from quality measurement and reporting to broader health information exchange (HIE) services.

Be Sure to Vote on Election Day Next Tuesday

October 29, 2026

Next Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day. Make sure you have a plan to vote, if you haven’t already.