The OU Board of Regents approved plans to establish a joint four-year community medical education program with the University of Tulsa during their December meeting Tuesday in the Scholars Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

The program would be centered around helping those most in need of medical care, according to the meeting’s agenda.

“We already have a history of working together very effectively,” OU President David Boren said. “There’s a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for this when you think about the very substantial benefit to the state.”

It is anticipated there will be a national shortage of physicians in the next 10 years, and Oklahoma already ranks among the lowest of all states in number of physicians per capita, according to the meeting agenda.

The universities are creating the program to help address the state’s low health status, low health systems performance and physician shortage, according to a press release from the regents.

OU’s goal is to begin the program in the fall of 2014, according to the release. Boren said the program’s planning process will take 12 to 18 months. He said a planning committee with representatives from both universities will be in the works soon.

TU has already established a core of science education and research programs, the regents press release stated, and OU has an established medical training program in Tulsa.

“It will be a very large undertaking,” Boren said. “It would also set in motion a very good ... mechanism for bringing in potential interested medical students into our medical program. I think it’s a very good opportunity for the state and the university.”

The regents also approved the design, preparation of construction documents and revised budget of $11,440,000 for the 29,000-square-foot Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work, to be constructed southwest of the intersection of Elm Avenue and Brooks Street.

Boren said the building’s construction will be funded by $5 million of private funds and $6 million of stimulus funds allocated by Gov. Brad Henry.

“We’re very happy,” Boren said. “It will virtually triple the usable amount of square footage by the school. The school has a wonderful reputation.”

Boren also announced the regents will award a Regents’ Professorship to John Snow, dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, for his commitment to science education and service to the university.

“His efforts have led Norman to become the weather center of the country,” Boren said.

The professorships are awarded to faculty who have achieved an unusual distinction in research, service or their ability to teach and guide students, according to a press release from the regents.

Snow has already announced plans to resign as Dean, effective June 30, 2010, to return to teaching and weather technology development.

Boren also announced a major gift to the OU Cancer Institute from the Chickasaw Nation, which will establish cancer support services for American Indians in the state, as well as help raise the standard of cancer care for this group of individuals.

“It is a very, very significant help to the cancer institute and to our fundraising drive,” Boren said.