The Caring for Missourians Initiative is providing training at four-year institutions throughout the state for 471 future medical professionals and hundreds more are receiving training at two-year institutions.

"The global economic crisis has left far too many folks out of work, but there will always be high demand for trained, qualified health care professionals," Gov. Jay Nixon said. "In fact, our hospitals and clinics are scrambling to hire additional doctors, nurses, dentists and other practitioners every day.

"Through caring for Missourians, we are taking a real step toward meeting our state's healthcare needs, while also giving these folks a leg up in this economy," he continued. "I appreciate the leadership of our public colleges and universities in implementing this program that will help turn our economy around."

Most recently, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry announced it would accept 17 additional students in its Doctor of Dental Surgery program during the next two years. Program funding also will be used to construct additional laboratory space, purchase new equipment and hire additional staff, as well as develop more rural rotation sites for student clinical experiences.

The university also plans to increase enrollment in its pharmacy, medicine, accelerated Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, Master's of Science in Nursing and nursing doctorate programs.

The program will further fund about 250 nursing degree opportunities at Lincoln University, Missouri State University, Missouri Western State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Northwest Missouri State University, University of Central Missouri, Truman State University, the University of Missouri - Columbia and the University of Missouri - St. Louis.

Those institutions, as well as Harris-Stowe State University, Missouri Southern State University and the Missouri University of Science & Technology, also plan to expand the number of trainees in programs for a variety of other healthcare fields.

Overall, the initiative will allow Missouri's four-year institutions to train 31 individuals as medical doctors, 17 in dentistry, 14 in occupational or physical therapy, 30 in pharmacy, 13 in cardiology and diagnostic science, 26 in communication science and disorders and 14 as medical technicians.