Consultant: Investors ready to back Louisiana College's proposed medical school

By Robert Morgan
rmorgan@thetowntalk.com

PINEVILLE -- "We have investors looking at putting up $70 million" to help start a medical school at Louisiana College, Dr. Jerry Flood told a crowd of community leaders, doctors, local hospital representatives, elected officials and businessmen Tuesday night.

Flood, a physician and the CEO of Flood International Consulting agency headquartered in Baton Rouge, is the initiator of the proposed school, LC President Joe Aguillard said. Aguillard said Tim Johnson, LC's vice president for institutional development, met with Flood to discuss a nursing school, but the conversation turned in another direction.

"And (Flood) said 'How would you all like to be the site of the next medical school?'" Aguillard said.

He said establishing a medical school at LC "was on our list long term," but Flood discussed the possibility of having a school open much sooner.

In the public presentation at the school's Granberry Conference Center, Flood laid out an analysis done by TrippUmbach, a firm specializing in medical school development, that supported the feasibility of adding the school.

"TrippUmbach is one of the best consulting firms in the country," he said.

Following the presentation, several local residents said they believe the school is needed and would have a major economic impact on Louisiana and Central Louisiana.

Flood presented data indicating a medical school would have a $1.1 billion impact on Central Louisiana and a total impact of $1.4 billion on the state overall.

"I was surprised that he had such detail," Regina Washington said.

Washington, the new Procter & Gamble plant manager, said with all of the medical facilities in the area, "I would never have thought we had a shortage of doctors."

Flood's presentation included data indicating 86 percent of Louisiana's parishes "are designated health professional shortage areas."

Bonnie Lemoine, P&G's head of external relations, said, "I think it's a great idea. With the shortage of doctors, I think it's going to be great for our state and Central Louisiana with the impact on the economy."

Dr. Robert Rush had similar praise for the proposal, saying "it's a wonderful opportunity for Central Louisiana, ... Louisiana College and .. for the people in this area who need to be served."

Asked about the chances for success, Rush said, "I would never bet against Dr. Joe (Aguillard). He knows what he's doing. He does his homework."

Al Velotta, vice president of non-acute care for Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, said the prospects for getting a medical school up and running, with the first students enrolled by September 2012, are not out of reason.

"We need more physicians," Velotta said.

He said he is more familiar with nursing schools getting started but the timeline is about the same as was discussed for the proposed medical school.

"I think that having nursing and allied health services education in the same environment of the medical school only enhances that learning," he said.

Congressman Rodney Alexander praised the plan and offered his support in working with government officials to get the project done.