Parker Griffith wants med school in Huntsville
Posted by BrianFrom AL.com:
Griffith says that a stream of federal dollars, linked with institutions here, could establish a stand-alone medical school in Huntsville. By turning out young doctors, Griffith argues, Huntsville would diversify the local economy and improve its quality of life.
“This is my vision for this area,” said Griffith, who is seeking the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer. “We need federal dollars for that medical school. That’s the kind of thing we can push for.”
Good strategic vision in keeping with Huntsville’s rich history of solid long term planning. I can’t say that I’m excited with his means for reaching the end state: using federal money. The federal government should have no role whatsoever in standing up a medical school in Huntsville (or anywhere else). But, I do think that the goal is a virtuous, realizable one.
Griffith, a retired cancer specialist turned businessman, also talks of finding federal dollars to expand Huntsville’s airport and maintain the defense and aerospace businesses that form Huntsville’s economic backbone.
I’m guessing that Griffith wouldn’t swear off of pork projects if he’s elected. It seems like he’s making a strong effort to let the community know that the transition between Cramer and him would be minimally disruptive to the gravy train.
The article touches on Griffith’s age (he’s 65) to which he replied, “I think that’s a legitimate worry. But, in my case, it’s not a concern.”
Preparing for the inevitable “liberal” attack ads he’ll face in the general election (I’m sorry, I don’t see him ceding more than 10% of the Dem vote to Maker), Griffith threw out the Bud comparison.
Griffith said he would succeed in Washington through his ability to see both sides. He said he is politically “middle of the road” like Cramer.
“I think extremes on either side are not what America’s about,” he said.
That formula worked for Cramer for nearly two decades, halted only by his choice. If Griffith can convince voters that he would be Bud Part Deux he’ll be tough to defeat.
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May 14th, 2008 at 12:31 am
It doesn’t make a lot of sense to put a medical school in Huntsville. UASOM already puts 30 students a year in Huntsville for clinical rotations and that seems to be about the full capacity for the hospital up there. A more likely place for a third medical school would be to add one in Birmingham, probably in conjunction with Samford. That would take advantage of the hospitals with residency programs that are currently not a part of the UAB health system.
May 14th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Far be it from me to put words in Griffith’s mouth, but it seems that he is making the proposal with a long term perspective. Huntsville is growing steadily with a large number of BRAC transferees reportedly moving here. I do believe that by the time a med school could be stood up (five, ten years?) the city (and entire north Alabama region) could support it, regardless of the number of students currently in rotation here.
Huntsville is also a high tech city, sporting one of the highest densities of technical professionals in the country. A med school that might be able to leverage existing skill sets in the specialties that it focused on would help diversify the employment infrastructure and make the area more resistant to economic hardships that can arise in a town that thrives on government contracts.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Yes, Huntsville is growing and –some day- it may support some kind of Medical School. However, the best experience is in treating the largest variety of diseases, anomalies, and patients. You must have a very large patient base for a complete medical school experience. You also need a vigorous basic science curriculum, gross anatomy lab, etc. Perhaps UAH could help eventually there, but it is way too soon. Huntsville is large and growing , but does not yet have the large patient base as Birmingham, Atlanta, etc. Huntsville is best suited for what it is now–a rotation for family practice. Perhaps more specialties can be represented in the training program, but a complete medical school no, not yet, no way—too much investment too. It would take lots of money to do it right.