A competitive state with good professionals requires a strong foundation of health care, another reason the UA College of Medicine’s expansion into Phoenix is vital to the state, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said yesterday.

In his tour of University Medical Center facilities yesterday, Gordon emphasized the need for medical doctors and an efficient health care system as a factor in retaining professionals of various trade. The expansion of UA’s College of Medicine to Phoenix will aim to accommodate the increasing demand for state physicians, Gordon said.

“”In today’s world, every city is competitive. We want the best architects, engineers, police officers, and in order to keep them, we have to provide them with medical benefits,”” Gordon said.

Gordon, who was joined by five medical students, has been a strong supporter of the UA’s plans in collaboration with Arizona State University for expanding their medical school to the Phoenix Biomedical Campus in downtown Phoenix.

Gordon said that the primary reason for expanding the College of Medicine was that it was too small and couldn’t handle the increasing demands for health care.

Members of the Arizona Board of Regents, along with UA and ASU administrators, echoed the theme.

“”This state will face a crisis in health care, if it’s not already there,”” said Regent Robert Bulla, retired CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield, at the August regents’ meeting. “”We could use 500 new M.D.s a year to keep up with demand, and we’re not even close.””

Allison Peasley, a second-year medical student, said one medical school for the entire state of Arizona simply isn’t enough.

“”We’re trying to get doctors who are trained here to stay here,”” Peasley said. “”Hopefully, the expansion into Phoenix will do just that.””

Mayor Gordon’s tour included a brief visit to the teleconference room at the UMC that has the technology to provide a live video connection between the Tucson and Phoenix campuses. The room will be host to various class discussions and committee meetings.

The opening ceremony for the Phoenix Biomedical Campus will be Oct. 10 and the first class of 24 students to be taught by ASU and UA faculty will begin in July of 2007, officials said.

There is funding for two classes of 24 students, officials said.

While in one of the patient rooms, Mayor Gordon was cornered into getting his blood pressure checked by second-year medical student Scott Cheney.

“”122 over 78 – he’s healthy,”” Cheney said.