By Brian Nordli (contact)

Monday, Sept. 29, 2014 | 9:22 a.m.

A month ago, the Nevada System of Higher Education requested $26.7 million from the Nevada Legislature to start a medical school at UNLV.

Now its up to Gov. Brian Sandoval and elected officials to determine if the state needs a second medical school.

During a Lincy Institute Forum today on the impact of the proposed medical school, Brookings Institute fellow John Hudak said the need exists.

Hudak joined medical school Planning Dean Barbara Atkinson, Tripp Umbach research firm President Paul Umbach and University of Central Florida Medical School founding Dean Deborah German.

The forum detailed research highlighting a significant economic impact a medical school at UNLV could have on Nevada.

Nevada ranks 46th among the states in the number of medical residents per 100,000 people and ranks last or near last in nearly every category of doctors per capita, from those in family practice to pediatricians, OB/GYNs and psychiatrists.

Las Vegas is also the largest major city without a medical school and is far from any other citys school. The closest one is in Loma Linda, Calif., which is 200 miles away, while the University of Nevada School of Medicine is 400 miles away.

A program in Southern Nevada would boost the states economy through research grants and attracting new businesses, Hudak said.

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Panel explores impact of proposed UNLV medical school