West Penn Allegheny To Form Medical School?

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The KDKA Investigators have learned the West Penn Allegheny Health System will announce the formation of a medical school.

KDKA's Marty Griffin reports sources indicate the new medical school will most likely be located at West Penn Hospital on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield.

According to a letter written by West Penn Allegheny CEO and President Chris Olivia: "Later in the spring, we will formally announce the formation of our new medical school in western Pennsylvania."

He added: "So many of you have commented on the value of this important educational endeavor for recruiting new physicians, expanding our research capabilities."

Sources indicate the school will be affiliated with Temple University. Initial plans would place the staff and students in Bloomfield with numbers for both as high as a thousand or more.

Sources indicate medical-financial insiders aren't as optimistic. It was in June that West Penn announced major layoffs. It was in December the facility closed its emergency room.

Sources indicate staffing and building a medical school will cost several hundred million dollars – money sources indicate West Penn Allegheny does not have access to.