University of Dubuque Purchases Downtown Building for Proposed John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque has purchased a building in downtown Dubuque to locate its proposed John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine. The site at 500 Main Street signals an ongoing commitment to build upon strong connections within the community.

"Around 120 years ago, under the leadership of President Ruston and later President Steffens, our main campus moved from downtown Dubuque to its current location, what was then referred to as 'Western Dubuque.' Through their foresight and strategic planning, they secured a location where our school could grow and expand. Today, we benefit from the fruit of their labor - and the labor of so many who have come after them. Our campus continues to experience growth and expansion. We are excited to announce that a significant footprint of our health professions programs will reconnect us again to the birthplace, so-to-speak, of our beginnings as an institution - in downtown Dubuque," said Travis Frampton, PhD, president of the University of Dubuque. "We believe that the proposed John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine will have a significant impact in addressing the shortage of primary care physicians in Iowa, that it will make a considerable impact in serving health care needs in rural communities, and that it will make a positive impact for all of us in Dubuque."

The three-story, 117,000-square-foot brick building is located in the heart of downtown Dubuque adjacent to the Town Clock Plaza in Dubuque Main Street's Town Clock District the city's Central Business District. It's within walking distance of the Five Flags Center, Washington Park, the Dubuque Museum of Art, restaurants, and more.

"The University of Dubuque's selection of this Main Street location is a game changer for downtown Dubuque. It will be a catalyst for additional investment and a boon for existing businesses," said Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh, MSW. "This decision to invest in downtown builds on the efforts that have revitalized the Historic Millwork District and the Main Street corridor. Plus, this adaptive reuse of an existing facility in a highly accessible location with parking capacity is a great example of sustainable development. The addition of more students, faculty, and staff to our already vibrant Main Street neighborhood is a great complement to anchor tenants like Northeast Iowa Community College, Cottingham & Butler, and others."

In December 2024, Frampton announced UD was officially moving forward with the required approvals and programmatic accreditation process to open a four-year medical school named in recognition of a $60 million gift from John (DHL'17) and Alice (DHL'17) Butler. The gift will support the proposed medical school's establishment, endowed scholarships for undergraduate health science and Dubuque County students enrolled in the DO program, endowed support of annual lab research and equipment updates for all health-related UD programs, endowed support of DO initiatives, program development, and outreach efforts, and endowed support to recruit, support, and retain leadership in the DO program.

The first new medical school in Iowa in over 125 years, the proposed college would bring needed support to the physician workforce and provide an economic benefit to the region as the U.S. is expected to face a physician shortage of between 13,500 and 86,000 by 2036, according to a study published in March 2024 by the Association of American Medical Colleges, titled The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections from 2021 to 2036.

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine use a whole-person approach to help prevent illness and injury. They look beyond symptoms to understand how lifestyle and environmental factors impact well-being. Osteopathic medicine is one of the fast-growing healthcare professions in the country, accounting for around 11 percent of physicians in the U.S., according to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

The proposed John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine will complement and expand UD's commitment to the medical field as it already offers strong academic healthcare programs, a master of science in physician assistant studies and a bachelor of science in nursing. As part of UD's commitment to enhancing its educational mission, the recently-acquired facility at the corner of West 5th and Main streets will also serve as the future home of PA program, which is presently housed on the main campus. Locating the PA program within the same confines of this new medical school will only serve to enhance and bolster UD's commitment to developing exceptional PAs.

"The opportunity for collaboration with the DO program fosters a dynamic learning environment for both PA and DO students, enhancing interprofessional experiences, optimizing shared resources, and ultimately contributing to improved patient care," said Natalie Weber, DMSc, PA-C, program director and associate professor of the PA program.

The decision to pursue this critical DO program follows years of thorough consideration and research on behalf of the University's leadership team and Board of Trustees.

UD is pursuing the necessary accreditation through the AOA - Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and is on track to open its doors in summer 2028.

"Beyond increased access to health care in Iowa and the tri-state region, the proposed John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine at UD will be a powerful economic engine, creating jobs, attracting talent, and boosting the local and regional economies. The estimated economic impact is projected to be over $1 billion to Iowa's economy over the next 20 years, based on similar new medical school projects in the U.S.," said David Mohr, MBA, chief executive officer of Medical Impact Company, LLC, who is consulting with UD. "The proposed college would support over 200 faculty and staff, with a comprehensive search underway for the inaugural dean. The inaugural class would be around 90 students with a full capacity of 750 over the next decade."

Preconstruction on the building at 500 Main Street will begin next week with the renovation expected to start in September 2025. The anticipated completion date is December 2026. Conlon Construction is the general contractor.