<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608156771964.jpeg" alt="Mosaic Life Care officials pose in UMKC School of Medicine classroom at the St. Joseph hospital/Photo courtesy of Mosaic Life Care" />
 <figcaption>Mosaic Life Care officials pose in UMKC School of Medicine classroom at the St. Joseph hospital/Photo courtesy of Mosaic Life Care</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA push to recruit more doctors to rural America begins in St.
Joseph with the expansion of the UMKC School of Medicine at Mosaic Life Care.UMKC has announced it received a $7 million federal grant to
begin offering classes at the Mosaic St. Joseph hospital.School of Medicine Dean Mary Anne Jackson says medical
students who study in rural settings often work in rural settings.“Students training in rural programs are three times as likely
to remain in practice in those areas,” Jackson tells a Zoom audience during an
announcement. “Our goals are to recruit students from rural communities or who
are committed to rural health care and prepare them with the same innovative
curriculum as students receive on the Kansas City campus as they live and learn
in St. Joseph.”The grant comes from the Health Resources and Services
Administration.State Rep. Brenda Shields of St. Joseph says the move will
likely increase the number of UMKC graduates by 20%.“This is an exciting day for UMKC School of Medicine,” Shields
says in the Zoom call. “It is an exciting day for Mosaic Life Care, but it is
an absolutely best day for St. Joseph, Missouri and northwest Missouri, because
these students are going to be a part of our community. And I just ask that we
open our hearts and our arms and we welcome them and embrace them and be excited
they’re with us.”U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says the money became available when
Congress became aware of the need, allocating $25 million in the medical
student education fund in 2019 followed by $50 million in 2020. UMKC met the
criteria and received the money.Mosaic CEO, Dr. Mark Laney, calls UMKC an ideal partner.“And I am absolutely certain we will provide an excellent
learning experience for our young physicians,” Laney tells the Zoom audience.Mosaic Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Davin Turner, says the
partnership fits well with Mosaic’s goals.“Our mission is to provide the highest quality care at the
right time in the right place to rural northwest Missouri,” Turner says.Turner says medical students will learn virtually for their first
two years, then will be taught within the St. Joseph hospital, which has
classrooms and labs.

UMKC School of Medicine expands into St. Joseph