SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — A 21-member R.I. Senate committee will be looking into potentially establishing a medical school at the University of Rhode Island (URI).

The committee was established largely due to a shortage of primary care clinicians in the state that’s only expected to get worse.

The Senate passed a resolution in June that created a commission to study the state’s health care workforce and see whether it would be possible to establish a medical school at URI.

“Rhode Island is headed for a crisis in primary care,” said Sen. Susan Sonowski, who sponsored the resolution. “We need to explore every avenue we can to ensure Rhode Islanders can access the care they need.”

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio announced appointments to the committee earlier this month.

URI President Marc Parlange will co-chair the committee with Sen. Pamela Lauria. Several URI stakeholders and other health professionals, including members of the Rhode Island Department of Health and Medical Society, will also be part of the committee.

According to the resolution, Rhode Island is home to a private medical school, but no new medical schools have been established in the state since 1972.

“Rhode Island struggles to retain primary care physicians upon graduation and offset these losses with physicians moving into the state,” the resolution notes.

The commission is scheduled to submit its recommendations to the Senate by Dec. 20, 2025.

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