The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) is expanding both health care services and clinical education for medical students, physician assistant students and residents in northern Nevada with the purchase of 745 West Moana Lane in Reno. UNR Med is transforming the existing three-story building into a multi-specialty primary clinical practice that will be patient-centered as both a model of outstanding medical care and medical education.

The impetus for the School of Medicine's expansion of its clinical practice off campus to a community-based location is to meet the community's growing need for health care, expand medical education at UNR and further develop community partnerships. The 60,000 square foot facility is centrally located between Lakeside Drive and Virginia Street, accessible by two bus lines and provides 300 free parking spaces. School officials anticipate clinical services and the medical education facility opening in early 2020.

With the purchase of the $9 million building, for which $4 million in philanthropic support is currently being sought for the buildout, UNR Med will provide one-stop health care for northern Nevadans with family medical care, women's health care, specialty care in endocrinology, psychiatry and geriatrics, and lab and x-ray services, all located under one roof.

The patient-centric practice will include faculty and staff members, along with other northern Nevada clinicians, who will streamline and manage patient referrals. An in-clinic insurance counselor will help patients navigate the insurance process. A clinical research coordinator will aid in the application process for patients who would like to volunteer for clinical research trials.

"The new multi-specialty primary clinic is a prime example of UNR Med's commitment to expanding health care access to northern Nevada and providing exceptional care for our community," said UNR Med Dean Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D. "We are extremely pleased to be expanding our medical training and clinical care reach at the same time. Excellent clinical care is also excellent clinical teaching. The expansion of patient care services by our faculty will allow for growth of local residency programs that play a critical role in training future doctors who will help ease Nevada's physician shortage."

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, a medical student who completes medical school and residency training in Nevada has a 77 percent likelihood of remaining in the area to practice.

The new clinical practice and clinical education facility comes as UNR Med will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on March 25, 2019. As Nevada's first public medical school, UNR Med has trained 3,100 physicians as either medical students and/or residents, with approximately 40 percent practicing in Nevada since the school was established in 1969. The School of Medicine has undergone significant growth to increase the number of health care professionals in Nevada by educating more physician assistants, medical students, residents and fellows. In 2018 alone, UNR Med launched several new departments in Reno, including departments of surgery and obstetrics/gynecology and a Physician Assistant Studies Program.

Reno-based MBA Architecture + Interior Design is designing the facility space. Clinical and support services will be located on the first and second floors. Clinical education of physician assistant students, medical residents and medical students will take place on the third floor. Faculty and learner lounges, administrative support offices and an expansive learning studio for lectures and other academic activities will also be located on the third floor. The learning studio will host community programs, including diabetes and pregnancy education groups, as well as continuing medical education events for area health care professionals.

UNR Med is currently leasing to other entities approximately 20,000 of the 60,000 square feet at the location, allowing for future expansion of UNR Med space and new services as the practice grows.

The modern interior will reflect a balance of cool glass and warm woods to illustrate the space's daily integration of missions and the synergism of clinical areas and clinical education spaces. Signage and colored floor tiles will guide patients with clinic navigation to their appointments. Learner and faculty artwork displays will accent the facility. The clinic will offer Wi-Fi and cable TV.

"UNR Med physicians see approximately 60,000 patient visits each year in their current clinical settings on campus," said Jeremy Alltop, senior associate dean, administration and finance. "The new multi-specialty primary clinical practice and education building will allow UNR Med to increase our clinical capabilities and provide care to a greater portion of our community - eventually building to more than 100,000 annual patient visits. By relocating clinical practices from the University to the new building, several campus facilities and parking spaces will be freed for new teaching and research opportunities."

Fundraising efforts are currently underway to assist with the buildout of the multi-specialty primary clinical practice and clinical education building. For information on partnership opportunities, please contact Shari Netzel, UNR Med director of development, at (775) 682-6077 or snetzel@unr.edu.