A $7.9 million lab expansion is slated to begin this fall at Idaho State University’s Meridian campus — a project geared to support two partners seeking to address Idaho’s physician shortage.

The project will add a 16-station human anatomy lab and a two-station embalming suite at the L.S. and Aline W. Skaggs Treasure Valley Anatomy and Physiology Laboratories. The building is home to a 34-station anatomy lab, Idaho State said in a news release. But demand is increasing, and the 6,130-square-foot remodel is designed to keep up with future growth.

“We have a decade of very successful operations under our belt,” said Padma Gadepally, director of anatomy laboratories and clinical assistant professor at Idaho State. “We started with about 50 learners and now have upwards of 2,000 learners.”

The labs are operating at full capacity. And in 2025, the adjacent Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine increased enrollment by 75 students per cohort, increasing the need for the remodel. ICOM is the state’s sole medical school.

“This project reflects our shared commitment to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals and ensuring Idaho communities have access to highly trained providers for years to come,” ICOM chair of anatomy Blaine Maley said in the Idaho State release.

The expansion will also support another piece of Idaho’s medical education puzzle: a partnership between the University of Idaho and the University of Utah. The two universities are working on a medical education program at the U of I’s Boise campus, and their students would be able to use Idaho State’s new facilities.

“This is the kind of partnership Idaho needs to grow its own healthcare workforce,” Rayme Geidl, co-director of the U of I School of Health and Medical Professions, said in the Idaho State release. “Collaborations like this show what’s possible when Idaho institutions work together.”