You are right, it is way too complicated to explain the interactions on a message board, and really unless you work handling the money you don't really know what is going on. The way money flows in the University proper is not that hard to follow, the med school is different, much more complicated.

As far as market strategy and Stanton, he has been shown much better strategic options over the years, he refused them. So it is not like there weren't discussions regarding med school positioning, he either can't see "it", or he has a vested interest in resisting anything that is counter to MSHA. It will be a moot point if King gets a med school, because if that happens all following Presidents and Deans will be in bed with who ever is running MSHA, I mean the Dean of the med school has to wash Vonderfect's car on Sunday afternoons as it is.

One thing I will say about any King/Wellmont medical school, is that they will underestimate what it costs to have a med school. In all my conversations over the years with people involved in non-academic medicine I have never seen ANYONE who had a clue about academic medicine. They are coming from a different angle and can't see the whole picture. I mean they think with a 100K you should have a cure for Cancer, 100K won't even turn the lights on in one research lab. I hope King/Wellmont has DEEP pockets.

As far as dual med schools helping the area after 15-20 years, I don't see it in that time frame. It would be more like 50 years if they both make it, IMHO of course.