Landmark legislation moves forward to establish a UC teaching hospital in Inland Southern California

(SACRAMENTO) – Yesterday, Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside), Senate Bill (SB) 1199, which would establish a University of California, Riverside School of Medicine (UCRSOM) acute care teaching hospital in Riverside County, unanimously passed out of the Senate Education Committee and is headed to Senate Appropriations. With its own hospital, UCRSOM will be able to fortify a pipeline of physicians and provide a healthcare platform with the highest standard of care for the Inland Southern California region.

Senator Roth shared: “It is an honor to move SB 1199 past this first hurdle and receive recognition from my colleagues that Inland Southern California is deserving of such investment.

Our region has long been overlooked, under-resourced and underserved, particularly when it comes to healthcare delivery. With a shortfall of over 1,500 primary care physicians in Inland Southern California alone, and the region’s status as one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, it is imperative that the UCR School of Medicine establish its own teaching hospital to meet both the current and anticipated health needs of our region.”

At the time of its inception in 2013, UCR School of Medicine was the first new public medical school in California in more than 40 years. To date, it is the only UC medical school to operate without a dedicated UC academic medical center. 

Senator Roth secured critical funding to startup UCRSOM in 2013 and in 2019 secured funding for UCRSOM to construct a new state-of-the-art $80-100 million academic building, doubling the capacity of the school from 250 to 500 physicians-in-training. In 2020, Senator Roth negotiated an additional $25M ongoing funding (total $40M in General Fund commitment) to sustain UCRSOM and allow it to grow. Then in 2021, he secured $10M for UCRSOM to initiate the process to secure an acute care teaching hospital.

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Senator Richard D. Roth represents the 31st State Senate District, which includes the communities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, March Air Reserve Base, Moreno Valley, Norco, Perris, and Riverside. Prior to his election, he served for 32 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in 2007 in the grade of Major General. More information about Senator Roth can be found at https://sd31.senate.ca.gov/