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New medical school planned for Clovis
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 8 years ago on
November 29, 2016

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A new medical school planned for Clovis hopes to quell the boomerang effect. California Health Sciences University (CHSU) in Clovis announced plans to offer a degree in osteopathic medicine, with the goal of recruiting and retaining the next generation of Valley doctors.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine would expand CHSU’s current offering of its pharmacy college. The plan is to open the school in three years by the fall of 2019. In the long range, CHSU hopes to add at least 10 colleges. Currently located on Clovis Avenue, just north of Old Town Clovis, the school plans to expand on land at Temperance Avenue & Highway 168.

The boomerang effect is when Valley young adults leave the area to go to college and return later after graduating. With a new local medical school, the wish is that students stay local and serve communities in need.

“The Central Valley suffers from some of the most severe physician shortages in California and we are dedicated to improving the health and lives of the people of our community,” CHSU president Florence Dunn said in a news release.

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is similar to a Medical Degree (MD), but tends to focus on primary care which is a huge need in the Central Valley, says CHSU Provost Wendy Duncan. “The idea is that students who grow up here are much more likely to stay to look after their family and friends.”

A DO can still prescribe medicine and perform surgery. They also focus more on joint and body manipulation, Duncan adds.

The idea to open a medical school is winning praise from the Valley’s health community. “We are supportive of CHSU’s plans to expand access to physicians who have a desire to serve in rural communities,” Adventist Health CEO Wayne Ferch said in a news release. “We look forward to opportunities to work with CHSU toward our common goal of providing excellent health care to those we serve.”

City leaders are excited about the potential economic boom. “California Health Sciences University’s planned medical school will be an incredible asset for the community to build on,“ Clovis Mayor Nathan Magsig is quoted in a news release.

“A program like this has a huge economic impact in the Valley. We are thinking it could bring $200 million a year to the Central Valley,” Duncan says.

Duncan says she in the process of hiring a dean.  She says a tuition rate has not been set, but she wants to keep things affordable. “We want to have a student population reflective of the Central Valley. Affordability is one of the hugest concerns.”

According to the American Osteopathic Association, the 2016-17 median tuition for private Osteopathic schools (as CHSU is organized) is $47,700 a year. For the two existing California schools, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo charges $51,450; Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona charges $54,930.

Disclosure: CHSU is funded in part by the Assemi family, who also serve in leadership positions at Granville Homes, the corporate owner of GV Wire.

E-mail David Taub

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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