University of Minnesota, CentraCare partnership grows Minnesota’s rural healthcare workforce

Contact: University Public Relations, [email protected]

What and when: University of Minnesota Board of Regents Meeting (Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9, beginning at 8:30 a.m.)

Where: McNamara Alumni Center, sixth floor, 200 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis. A livestream of the meeting is available at youtube.com/UMNRegents.

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (10/02/2026) — The University of Minnesota Board of Regents will receive an update on the University of Minnesota Medical School’s partnership with CentraCare, one of the state’s largest health systems serving central, west-central and southwestern Minnesota.

Just three years after the Board approved the academic affiliation, the partnership is already expanding opportunities for medical education, research and patient care. The University of Minnesota Medical School CentraCare Regional Campus St. Cloud now serves 48 University of Minnesota medical students and is helping strengthen the pipeline of physicians prepared to care for patients in rural areas and regional communities across Minnesota.

The partnership advances the University’s commitment to ensuring Minnesotans have access to high-quality care close to home. The University educates and trains 70% of Minnesota’s health and healthcare workforce and continues to expand programs and partnerships that address workforce shortages, particularly in rural communities.

“Where physicians train often influences where they ultimately practice,” said Jill Amsberry, associate dean for undergraduate medical education at the University of Minnesota Medical School CentraCare Regional Campus St. Cloud. “Our students are learning in the communities that need them most, gaining firsthand experience caring for patients across every stage of life while building the relationships and skills that can help keep them in Minnesota after graduation.”

Since the affiliation was approved in 2023, the partnership has moved from planning to implementation. After receiving accreditation approval in 2024, the Medical School welcomed its first St. Cloud cohort in 2025. The campus is expected to reach full enrollment of 96 students in 2028 and graduate its first class in 2029.

Early outcomes underscore the impact of the University of Minnesota and CentraCare partnership. Ninety-six percent of students are from Minnesota, with over half from communities with fewer than 20,000 residents, and the inaugural class achieved a 100% first-year pass rate.

The affiliation also is expanding graduate medical education opportunities. To date, the partnership has created 14 new residency positions, with plans to grow to more than 72 slots across seven high-need specialties, including family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and internal medicine.

“This partnership is about more than educating future physicians,” said Ken Holmen, president and CEO of CentraCare. “It’s about building a healthier future for the communities we serve. By expanding training opportunities, growing residency programs and advancing research, we’re strengthening access to care across greater Minnesota and creating a long-term pipeline of healthcare professionals for our region.”

The partnership represents a significant investment in Minnesota’s health and healthcare future. CentraCare has committed $40 million toward medical education facilities and learner housing, while the CentraCare Foundation has raised more than $48 million to support the affiliation. The State of Minnesota has also invested $15 million in facility and start-up support.

The partnership is also advancing research and clinical collaboration, with a focus on improving rural health outcomes, increasing access to clinical trials and strengthening data-driven patient care.

“Minnesota faces a growing need for healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas,” said Carol Bradford, interim dean of the Medical School and interim executive vice president for Health Affairs. “Partnerships like this one are central to the University’s mission of educating the next generation of healthcare leaders and ensuring communities across the state have access to high-quality care close to home. Together with CentraCare, we’re building a stronger workforce and a healthier Minnesota.”

Also in October, the Board is expected to:

• Receive an update on the advancement of the University’s AI Hub from Galin Jones, vice provost for AI.
• Act on the President’s recommended state legislative requests, including the fiscal 2028–29 biennial budget request and the 2027 state capital request.
• Review the transfer of Cloquet Forestry Center land to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa with Alice Roberts-Davis, vice president for University Services; Leslie Krueger, assistant vice president for Planning, Space and Real Estate; Linda Nagel, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; and Karen Diver, senior advisor to the President on Native American Affairs.
• Receive the annual philanthropy report with University of Minnesota Foundation CEO John Morris.

All in-person meeting attendees at the McNamara Alumni Center are required to go through security screening. Visitors are encouraged to allow ample time for the screening process. A livestream of the meeting and recordings of previous meetings are available at youtube.com/UMNRegents.

The Board’s Virtual Forum accepts audio, video and written input, which is shared directly with Regents and included in the Board’s public materials. The public is encouraged to visit the Virtual Forum to submit their comments. 

For more information, including future meeting times, visit regents.umn.edu. 

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