A collaboration between Carilion Health System and Virginia Tech could yield a new medical school in Virginia -- in Roanoke.

Related discussions began "almost immediately after Carilion announced [in June] it was going to convert to a clinic model, because the idea of a medical school so clearly fits that model," said Warner Dalhouse, a member of Carilion's board of directors who is also a Roanoke banking executive.

He said the medical school site would likely be in Carilion's Riverside Center along South Jefferson Street and Reserve Avenue, a business park in progress that resulted from a public-private partnership between Carilion and the city of Roanoke.

A medical school could enhance Carilion's ambitious plan to transform the health care provider from its hospital-based treatment focus to a clinic approach, akin to the Mayo Clinic, that emphasizes educational and research components.

And a medical school in Roanoke could help boost regional economic development efforts, said Dalhouse, chairman of HomeTown Bank.

"Virginia Tech and Carilion are the two economic engines we have to bank on," he said. "Put these two together and I think that's dynamite for the region."

Dalhouse added, "I do believe the talks will be consummated favorably."

Eric Earnhart, a spokesman for Carilion Health System, would neither confirm nor deny that medical school discussions have been under way with Virginia Tech.

"I don't have any information that I can give you at this point about anything like that," he said.

When asked Wednesday evening whether he could reach Dr. Ed Murphy, Carilion's chief executive officer, or Dr. Mark Werner, an executive vice president for the health system, Earnhart repeated, "I have no information."

Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker and President Charles Steger could not be reached for comment.

Carilion board member and Roanoke businessman George Logan, now a lecturer at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, also confirmed that a medical school "is being discussed between the two institutions." He said he did not attend the last board meeting and could not comment about any recent developments.

James Wolfe, president of the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, said he did not think a new medical school in the region would conflict with the college's mission.

"I think as far as we're concerned we're going to be collaborative and helpful if they decide to go in that direction," he said.

Dalhouse said he has not heard details about what capital investment might be required to get the medical school up and running.

duncan.adams@roanoke.com 981-3324

jeff.sturgeon@roanoke.com 981-3251