why BYU can't have a medical school - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

MikeWaters · 04-27-2007, 12:36 AM

There are a million reasons why it wouldn't make sense. But here is a big one.

1. It would require a shift in focus from teaching to research. The idea of running a medical school without any research is ludicrous. Sure there are some schools that are almost entire clinical, but these are the very bottom of the barrel, and everyone wants MORE research, not less.

2. Utah population isn't large enough to support another medical school.

3. Way too expensive, with a limited payoff. There is no driver here, no reason to justify the expense. Mormon kids are already becoming doctors.

A law school is small potatoes. Every bo diddly tech has a law school, or could have one if they wanted.

There are many other reasons. But the abadonment of research is the most interesting one to me.

Jeff Lebowski · 04-27-2007, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

There are many other reasons. But the abadonment of research is the most interesting one to me.

Interesting, indeed. What do you mean?

MikeWaters · 04-27-2007, 01:01 AM

What I mean is that even if there was enough money and a large enough population, and even a perceived need for more LDS physicians, the research issue would still make it a non-starter.

Jeff Lebowski · 04-27-2007, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

What I mean is that even if there was enough money and a large enough population, and even a perceived need for more LDS physicians, the research issue would still make it a non-starter.

I am not so sure I agree. If the financial situation and the perceived needs changed, perhaps attitudes would change. I don't think there is a notion in the board of trustees that research is inherently evil somehow. It's more an issue of optimization based on the current mission of the university.

il Padrino Ute · 04-27-2007, 02:50 AM

I've always been curious why Utah doesn't have a dental school. Anybody know why?

SeattleUte · 04-27-2007, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

I've always been curious why Utah doesn't have a dental school. Anybody know why?

Dental schools are a money black hole and the demand for dentists has been shrinking. Half of them have closed.

Mormon Red Death · 04-28-2007, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

There are a million reasons why it wouldn't make sense. But here is a big one.

1. It would require a shift in focus from teaching to research. The idea of running a medical school without any research is ludicrous. Sure there are some schools that are almost entire clinical, but these are the very bottom of the barrel, and everyone wants MORE research, not less.

2. Utah population isn't large enough to support another medical school.

3. Way too expensive, with a limited payoff. There is no driver here, no reason to justify the expense. Mormon kids are already becoming doctors.

A law school is small potatoes. Every bo diddly tech has a law school, or could have one if they wanted.

There are many other reasons. But the abadonment of research is the most interesting one to me.

Why not have an osteopathic school? They don't do any research..

creekster · 04-28-2007, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

Why not have an osteopathic school? They don't do any research..

LOL (well, maybe ChuckleOL)

Mormon Red Death · 04-29-2007, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creekster

LOL (well, maybe ChuckleOL)

Why was that funny? Osteopathic schools are teaching institutions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopath

04-27-2007, 12:36 AM	#1
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	why BYU can't have a medical school There are a million reasons why it wouldn't make sense. But here is a big one. 1. It would require a shift in focus from teaching to research. The idea of running a medical school without any research is ludicrous. Sure there are some schools that are almost entire clinical, but these are the very bottom of the barrel, and everyone wants MORE research, not less. 2. Utah population isn't large enough to support another medical school. 3. Way too expensive, with a limited payoff. There is no driver here, no reason to justify the expense. Mormon kids are already becoming doctors. A law school is small potatoes. Every bo diddly tech has a law school, or could have one if they wanted. There are many other reasons. But the abadonment of research is the most interesting one to me.

04-27-2007, 02:50 AM	#5
il Padrino Ute Board Pinhead Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the basement of my house, Murray, Utah. Posts: 15,941	I've always been curious why Utah doesn't have a dental school. Anybody know why? __________________ "The beauty of baseball is not having to explain it." - Chuck Shriver "This is now the joke that stupid people laugh at." - Christopher Hitchens on IQ jokes about GWB.

04-27-2007, 01:01 AM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	What I mean is that even if there was enough money and a large enough population, and even a perceived need for more LDS physicians, the research issue would still make it a non-starter.