Stakeholders in development of MSU West Michigan Medical School advance 'proof of concept'
Leaders in health care, education, research and economic development have provided the community with the framework for the proposed Michigan State University West Michigan Medical School. Representatives from stakeholders Grand Action, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, Saint Mary's Health Care, Spectrum Health, The Right Place Inc. and Van Andel Institute have drafted a "proof of concept" that outlines the feasibility of building a four-year accredited medical school in West Michigan.
The objective of building the West Michigan Medical School is to enhance medical education and patient care in West Michigan and across the state, and to further enhance the life sciences environment and the economic development opportunities in the region.
Community leaders have determined that building a Michigan State University West Michigan Medical School will allow the region to create a strong niche in biomedical and life sciences research, health care and commerce. The partnership will benefit patient care throughout Michigan by speeding the translation of cutting-edge biomedical research to patient care in the constituent medical facilities and throughout MSU's network of community medical school campuses.
"This is a great example of MSU's commitment to its land-grant mission, by building research and commercialization to enhance economic development for all of Michigan," says MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. "I believe that a research-intensive, patient-centered medical school - one that is part of an MSU College of Human Medicine committed to community-based medical education - will be a national model for 21st century medicine."
The MSU West Michigan Medical School also will address a looming national physician shortage, one that is projected to hit Michigan particularly hard.
The MSU College of Human Medicine in East Lansing will continue to be a four-year medical school with current faculty and practicing physicians continuing to serve the East Lansing students and community.
The efforts of stakeholders have led to a proof of concept and a collection of working papers that form a framework by which this initiative could be undertaken. This framework provides the necessary foundation for the next steps in bringing this exciting vision to fruition.
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