Answers to Your Questions

This agreement is an important milestone that brings clarity to the various dimensions of our relationship with M Physicians and Fairview for the next 10 years and an  important milestone toward forging a new path to improve the health of all Minnesotans.  Our vision for improving health and healthcare of all Minnesotans includes:

• Additional and expanded partnerships that result in consistent and sustained access to high-quality care across Minnesota.
• Sustaining, strengthening and expanding the University of Minnesota Medical School - one of the state’s most widely needed public assets.
• Recruitment and training of the next generation of health professionals to serve the state - including greater and rural Minnesota - in a world class learning environment.  These professionals work across all health sciences disciplines including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, public health and veterinary.
• Expanded health innovation that leads to life-saving and life-sustaining cures.
• Modern patient care and teaching facilities and innovative technology and learning resources for training the future health and healthcare workforce.

Nothing changes at this time. The existing agreement between the University of Minnesota, M Physicians, and Fairview Health Services remains in place through  the end of 2026.

We are pleased that this new agreement brings longer-term clarity and stability to our partnership. With this agreement in place, we will continue working to shape a broader vision of how we achieve our mission and deliver health and healthcare excellence to all of Minnesota.

The University will continue to creatively and collaboratively explore multiple paths to address the health and healthcare needs of all Minnesotans for the coming decade, including improving access to rural care and advancing life-saving research. We look forward to sharing more about this vision in the weeks and months ahead. 

While this is an important milestone, it’s not the end of the journey. The University will continue to creatively and collaboratively explore multiple paths to address the urgent health care needs - including forging additional and expanded partnerships that result in consistent and sustained access to high-quality care across MInnesota.

Yes. We have work to do to ensure the University of Minnesota remains the premier institution for faculty, students, providers, and patients. The University will continue to creatively and collaboratively explore multiple paths to address the health and healthcare needs of all Minnesotans for the coming decade, including improving access to care and advancing life-saving research. As part of ongoing discussions, the University is reviewing successful academic health system models from across the country to build a long-term structure that best serves Minnesotans. 

Yes. While Fairview is the largest partner, faculty and students also train with Hennepin Healthcare, HealthPartners, North Memorial, Veterans Administration, CentraCare, Essentia, Aspirus network, and many rural hospitals. 

No. Minnesota—like the rest of the nation—faces a physician shortage now, with projections showing further declines in the future, particularly in rural regions. The Medical School is actively expanding capacity and rural training programs to help address this gap.

Alumni can contact the Medical School Alumni Relations Office, the Medical School Alumni Board, or the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.  

To learn more about the medical school go to https://med.umn.edu.