Manipal Education Americas, Other For-Profits Looking to Open Med Schools in State

Two for-profit groups are exploring the possibility of opening medical schools in Montana.

The state now participates in a program that allows up to 30 Montana medical students a year to attend the University of Washington School of Medicine and train at Seattle hospitals.

Entrepreneur Daniel Burrell and his family, who funded the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in New Mexico, are studying whether to open a school in Bozeman in partnership with Montana State University.

A for-profit firm called Manipal Education Americas is exploring opening a Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missoula. Manipal runs schools in India, Malaysia, Nepal and Antigua.

Bozeman and Missoula city leaders tout the economic opportunities.

Physicians are concerned whether a hospital would undermine the state's current program and whether Montana has enough medical facilities to train hundreds of students.