Oregon Health & Science University is planning to create a satellite campus in Klamath Falls, Oregon to focus on rural medicine.
OHSU's provost and vice president announced Wednesday that the campus would become a hub. A dean is expected to be hired by July so that campus planning can begin.
The Oregon Community Foundation gave OHSU a $50,000 planning grant, and fundraising is now key.
The Oregonian reports it is a first-of-its-kind venture in Oregon, and there are very few like it in the U.S.
Philp Marucha, dean of dentistry at OHSU, said the expansion will help students gain an understanding of the culture of rural areas. With dentistry schools often located in big cities, Marucha said students often do not feel comfortable starting their career in a setting unknown to them.