The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV was officially established on August 22, 2014, when the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents approved funding for the medical school’s start-up costs. The budget was submitted to Governor Brian Sandoval and the Nevada Legislature where it was approved. On June 11, 2015, Gov. Sandoval signed Senate Bill 514 into law at the UNLV Student Union. The bill, along with other measures, provides start-up funding for the medical school. The medical school is Nevada’s response to the need for more quality health care in Nevada. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), in 2010, Nevada ranked 45th in the country in the number of physicians per 100,000 population. A Brookings-SRI report indicated not having a medical school is one of the largest threats to Southern Nevada’s economic prosperity.
