Kansas University’s economic impact extends far beyond the Lawrence and Kansas City Medical Center campuses.

A new study commissioned by the KU School of Medicine in Wichita shows the school contributed $35.6 million last year to the Wichita community.

The campus plans to use the findings for lobbying and to use as a benchmark as it begins its 30th year in Wichita.

“We think it’s important for us to show what our contribution to this community is,” said Brenda Gray, a spokeswoman for the campus.

The study was completed by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University.

It showed that for every state dollar invested in the school, an additional $1.50 in federal and state funds was spent in Wichita.

The study also showed the school directly created 528 jobs and indirectly led to another 300 jobs.

“We certainly think because we are a state agency, the Legislature needs to know our role in providing a service to our community,” Gray said. “This is a very good way to show this.”

The Wichita campus currently enrolls 103 third- and fourth-year medical students who are completing their residencies at Wichita clinics and hospitals. In addition to 55 full-time and 65 part-time faculty, more than 900 physicians volunteer their time to help teach resident students.

Bernie Koch, vice president for communications and government relations for the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce, said those residents were key to the survival of the Wichita health care system. He noted that people from throughout Kansas go to Wichita for checkups and treatment.

He said the chamber fought an effort during the 1980s to scale back operations at the campus.

“It’s a very significant impact well beyond just the payroll,” Koch said. “It’s pretty important to us, and if somebody tried to take it away we’d fight them.”