Side by Side

Drs. Jill Amsberry and Chris Fallert explain how the University of Minnesota Medical School and CentraCare's new St. Cloud campus is a rural-urban partnership that will transform rural health care and strengthen the region

Ellen talks with Drs. Jill Amsberry and Chris Fallert to discuss the launch of the new University of Minnesota Medical School Regional CentraCare St. Cloud campus in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The new St. Cloud campus, developed in partnership with the CentraCare health care system and the University of Minnesota, aims to address the shortage of rural physicians by recruiting and training students from rural areas. 

CentraCare is the largest provider of rural health care in Minnesota, serving an 18-county region across central, western, and southwestern parts of the state. In addition to the Twin Cities campus, this will be the first regional campus for the University of Minnesota Medical School since the Duluth campus opened in 1972.

Jill and Chris also share how this unique rural-urban collaboration holds significant potential to positively impact communities across the region by highlighting how the partnership between CentraCare and the University of Minnesota is not only expanding healthcare access and improving quality of care but also strengthening the region’s social, human, political, and economic capital. 

Episode Highlights:
02:03 Goals and Vision for the New Campus

07:10 Challenges in Rural Healthcare

13:11 Faculty and Student Recruitment

28:28 Community Impact and Development

More Information:
Dr. Chris Fallert Bio, https://med.umn.edu/bio/christopher-fallert
Dr. Jill Amsberry Bio, https://www.centracare.com/doctors/profile/jill-amsberry/
University of Minnesota Medical School, https://med.umn.edu/
CentraCare Health System, https://www.centracare.com/