Re the July 14 story Hospital upends med-school plan: The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University would like to clarify a few points. The story implied that the future of the regional medical campus is in jeopardy because of financial problems that Boca Raton Community Hospital is experiencing.

However, the medical-education program is flourishing, with 79 students enrolled. Beginning in 2009, they will participate in clinical training at several community hospitals as well as Boca Raton Community Hospital, which continues to be one of FAU's valued partners in medical and nursing education.

The long-term viability of the UM Miller School at FAU never has depended upon the availability of residencies at a single hospital. Agreements recently have been concluded with JFK Medical Center in Atlantis and the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center that created 66 Palm Beach County residencies for medical students, and more such agreements will be forthcoming. It remains our intent to create a total of 250 to 300 new residency positions in Palm Beach County, as described to the Florida Board of Governors.

In view of Boca Raton Community Hospital's financial difficulties, we understand the decision to defer major commitments, such as the plan to build a teaching hospital on FAU's Boca Raton campus. But this delay has no impact on the overall well-being of the medical-education program at the regional campus. Our program is on track and continues to move forward in fulfillment of its mission to provide a top-quality medical education for the physicians of tomorrow, create residency training positions and partner with the biotech industrial development in Palm Beach County to continue to develop quality healthcare and economic-growth opportunities.

MICHAEL L. FRIEDLAND, MD, vice president for medical programs at FAU, Boca Raton