RAPID CITY, S.D. – Leaders behind the proposed Indigenous School of Medicine gathered with healthcare, education, and community partners in Rapid City to share progress on a project aimed at expanding medical education and improving healthcare outcomes for underserved communities.
Planning Dean Dr. Donald Warne says the school will combine modern medical training with Indigenous knowledge, culture, and healing practices. Organizers hope the school will help address the shortage of Indigenous physicians while preparing doctors to serve tribal, rural, and other medically underserved populations.
The independent medical school is planned for Rapid City and is expected to welcome its first class of 40 students in the fall of 2031. The project carries an estimated cost of 200 million dollars and would operate from a campus near Monument Health through a long-term lease arrangement.
Supporters say the school is designed to help address significant health disparities affecting Native American communities while creating a new pipeline of physicians trained to provide culturally responsive care.
The project has already secured more than two million dollars in foundation funding to support planning, accreditation, and development efforts. Organizers say the school is open to students of all backgrounds, provided they demonstrate a commitment to serving Indigenous and underserved communities.
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