SLED Opportunity · DELAWARE · DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
AI Summary
Delaware DHSS seeks a partner for a 5-year Medical School Partnership to develop academic leadership, faculty, rural healthcare engagement, student enrollment, and graduate medical education expansion. The goal is to address primary care shortages and ensure long-term sustainability through fundraising and local physician training.
This initiative will be guided by a phased, 5-year timeline that aligns the strategic vision developed in the RHTP proposal and the requirements set forth by the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). The selected partner will be responsible for embedding these goals into its implementation planning from the outset.The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has set the following goals over a five-year initial operational period funded by the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP): • Inaugural Medical School Dean Appointed: Goal: No later than December 31, 2026 Responsible for establishing academic leadership and steering early faculty and curriculum development. • Faculty Appointments Completed: Goal: September 2027 Sufficient faculty must be appointed to support the inaugural class, including at least 10 full-time core faculty and administrators. • Rural Healthcare Facility Engagement: Goal: Engage at least five rural healthcare facilities, with preference for sites in Kent and Sussex counties, by the end of Fall 2027. The program will leverage Delaware’s existing healthcare infrastructure and clinical training sites in communities across the State of Delaware to prepare physicians for rural practice. • Enrollment and Academic Launch: Goal: First-year student cohort to be enrolled and attending classes by Fall 2028 At least 40 students in the initial undergraduate medical education program cohort. • Rural Graduate Medical Education (GME) Expansion: Goal: Formalize at least three rural GME agreements no later than Fall 2028 The new medical school will work with Delaware’s six major health systems operating graduate medical education (GME) programs to establish residency linkages, creating a pathway from medical school through residency training in Delaware’s rural communities and expanding the GME programs. • Operational Launch and Financial Target: Goal: Full institutional launch, including curriculum delivery, faculty engagement, and student instruction, must be completed by Spring 2031. The program’s operations throughout Spring 2031 should remain within the funding provided under RHTP. • Long-term Financial Sustainability: Goal: By the conclusion of the initial five-year RHTP-funded period, tuition revenue and philanthropic support/endowment should provide primary operating support for the medical school. The partner institution will be expected to develop, within the scope of work, a robust fundraising program, including outreach to charitable foundations and Delaware health systems, to further strengthen long-term sustainability and support innovation.The selected partner will be responsible for building essential program infrastructure within this timeframe, achieving key milestones early, and outlining a clear path for sustained success after the initial funding period. Respondents to this RFP should provide comprehensive strategies for achieving these objectives during the five-year funding period while also presenting a plan for ongoing program sustainability.By fostering a robust academic partnership, the State of Delaware aims to address persistent primary care shortages both statewide and in rural communities, setting a new regional standard for medical education, medical workforce sustainability, and healthcare innovation. The selected partner will play a pivotal role in shaping a dynamic pipeline of healthcare talent, ensuring that Delaware’s next generation of physicians is well-prepared, locally trained, and committed to lifelong practice in the State.Please refer to Appendix B for additional details/requirements for the Scope of Services.
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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