Two weeks ago KTBS 3 reported on a proposal made by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center to create a new medical school in Baton Rouge.

The director of the PBRC reached out to KTBS 3 to clear up a few misconceptions.

Dr. Steven Heymsfield said he and his colleagues are discussing a two-year, research-based medical program that would act as a satellite for other medical schools in the state.

It would be a school where students from LSU New Orleans or Shreveport could receive part of their research training, but they would not complete all of their education there.

Heymsfield said he understands how strapped the state is for cash, and they would hope to rely on private donors to fund the program.

"The donors could be philanthropists or they could be an industry as well. I was formerly at MERC and there are companies that would be interested in creating a name branch medical school," said Heymsfield.

Despite how quickly word got out about the PBRC's idea, Heymsfield said the board has not yet proposed anything to the state legislature.