Governor Jay Inslee and Spokane leaders came together in Spokane yesterday to join Washington State University leadership and the WSU community in celebrating passage of historic legislation allowing WSU to operate a medical school.
The medical school bill, HB 1559, was signed by the governor on Wednesday, amending a nearly 100 year old law that limited medical education to the University of Washington. WSU is now clear to establish, operate and maintain a school of medicine within the state of Washington.
“We’re all Washington State Cougars today, to celebrate a Washington State University medical school,” Inslee told several hundred community and university leaders, students and dignitaries in Spokane Thursday.
WSU Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown welcomed all to the WSU Spokane campus, followed by remarks from WSU President Elson Floyd, WSU Board of Regent Chair Mike Worthy, WSU Spokane Advisory Board Chair Marty Dickinson and Governor Inslee.
Afterward, Inslee spoke privately with a contingent of several dozen students on hand representing each of WSU’s campuses.
Media coverage from Thursday’s event can be found here and here.