WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Kansas Health Science University in Wichita paid tribute to the role Riverside Health Foundation has had on community health.

On Wednesday, the university unveiled a plaque in their honor.

KHSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of many initiatives supported by the foundation, which was established 30 years ago following the sale of Riverside Hospital to Via Christi.

Randy Coonrod, chairman of the Riverside Health Foundation, says it’s essential to support the college due to the shortage of physicians in rural Kansas.

“This will benefit not only Wichita, Sedgwick County, but the state of Kansas in the profession,” he said. “[There’s a] shortage of physicians, shortage of family practice physicians, shortage of physicians in rural America, especially rural Kansas. Colorado, Nebraska, all the rural areas are vastly short of physicians, and we’re trying to put more of them out there.”

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