Yvonne Gonzalez

Gov. Brian Sandoval prepares to hand a $25 million check to Luis Valera, vice president for government affairs and compliance for UNLV, on Monday, June 5, 2017, at the NevadaCapitol.

By Yvonne Gonzalez (contact)

Published Monday, June 5, 2017 | 10:20 p.m.

Updated Monday, June 5, 2017 | 10:45 p.m.

CARSON CITY An anonymous donor is helping put $25 million toward the UNLV medical school.

Gov. Brian Sandoval said during a Monday news conference that his rough estimate is that the state has invested over $80 million in the project over the past two sessions, but that a school needs to be built.

He said the facility would be a game-changer for Southern Nevada residents.

Las Vegas is the largest metropolitan area in the country without a medical school, he said. Its important that we have that resource.

The governor said he received a call two weeks ago from an anonymous donor who agreed to contribute if lawmakers would approve the initial investment.

This would be the catalyst that would provide for the amount of funding to once and for all begin construction on a medical school for Southern Nevada, he said, adding that legislative leaders immediately embraced the idea.

The schools first class of students is expected to start in the fall.

The states contribution to complete planning and begin construction of a new building for the UNLV School of Medicine is included in Senate Bill 553, which was sent to the governors office for his signature on the last day of the session.

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$25 million donation to help UNLV medical school become reality - Las Vegas Sun