Phoenix Wants Its Own Medical School

For decades, one of Phoenix's loudest civic rallying cries has been that it is the largest city in the United States without its own major medical school.

Philadelphia, for example, which Phoenix just eclipsed in size, has four major medical schools in its center city.

But how much does Phoenix lose by not having a medical school?

A lot, judging from how much medical schools and teaching hospitals can contribute to the economy. A recent study by the American Association of Medical Colleges shows that directly or indirectly they employ 1 out of every 54 wage earners in the country.

In Tucson, the University of Arizona's College of Medicine and teaching hospital employs about as many people as the city.

The UA's college brings in $79 million in grants, putting it in the city's top 30 revenue producers. And that doesn't count revenues generated by the teaching hospital.

More here.