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Stakeholders determine feasibility of MSU West Michigan Medical School
Medical school will improve patient care, research and West Michigan's
life science economy (PDF Version)
Contact: Steve Heacock, Van Andel Institute, (616) 234-5294; or Anne Rothwell/Kate Washburn, Wondergem Consulting Inc., (616) 235-7467
Grand Rapids, Michigan (November 16, 2005) - Leaders in health care, education, research and economic development today provided the community with the framework for the proposed Michigan State University West Michigan Medical School. Representatives from Grand Action, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University (MSU), Saint Mary's Health Care, Spectrum Health, The Right Place, Inc. and Van Andel Institute (VAI) presented a "Proof of Concept" that outlines the feasibility of building a four-year accredited medical school in West Michigan.
These community leaders known as the "Stakeholders" began developing a plan for this initiative in 2004. They set out the concept of building a medical school to improve patient care, the economy and medical education in West Michigan . Their objective was to determine whether it was feasible to build a self-sustaining medical school that focused on research and complementary sub-specialty clinical practice, is nationally emulated for innovative research and educational capabilities, and had a broader interest in programs that improve the health of the West Michigan community.
"This has been an exciting and arduous process - and there is much left to do," said VAI Chairman and CEO David Van Andel. "But we have proved the concept. The MSU West Michigan Medical School is feasible and will improve patient care, research and the life science economy of West Michigan ."
"What an exciting thing for West Michigan and Michigan State to be partners in what is a truly rare opportunity. Building on MSU's long-standing presence in the community, we are committed to creating a research-intensive, patient-centered four-year medical school, one that is embedded in the community and is a paradigm for 21 st -century medicine," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon.
Seven work groups composed of 60 volunteers were co-chaired by representatives from MSU and West Michigan . They focused on commercialization, educational planning, finance, fund raising, operations and facilities, research and faculty practice plans and recommended a framework for the medical school and its relationships with area institutions.
Based on this work, the stakeholders created a multi-faceted vision for the MSU West Michigan Medical School . Elements of the vision include:
- The MSU West Michigan Medical School , in collaboration with its West Michigan partners, will establish five new focused research clusters
- The medical school will be the keystone for developing West Michigan as a center for life science commercialization
- The medical school will create an innovative molecular medicine curriculum
- With this expansion, Grand Rapids will become the center of integrating molecular medicine research and education for the MSU College of Human Medicine and home of the dean. The medical school will have a dedicated building, including teaching labs, classrooms, and offices in a state-of-the-art academic medicine center.
- Financial security will be built on substantial commitments from MSU and long-term contracts from the West Michigan collaborators. Spectrum, VAI , Saint Mary's and Grand Valley State University will each to enter into a collaboration agreement with the medical school, which will in total provide the financial basis needed for the collaborative provision of researchers, clinicians and educators.
- Grand Action, Michigan State and the other stakeholders will work to secure funding for the construction costs of a new medical school facility. Details will be announced later upon completion of the collaboration agreements and beginning of the capital campaign.
"The MSU College of Human Medicine's substantial Michigan funding base, its geographic location, and its strong interest in expanding medical research made it the natural partner in fulfilling our vision. Michigan State also has a large and diverse alumni population, strong corporate affiliations, and significant medical school student representation already in West Michigan , further distinguishing the school as the right choice for our region," said Van Andel. "The resulting collaboration with West Michigan will help improve patient care, our ability to translate research, the development of a life sciences economy and the training of medical professionals."
Next steps in this process include the completion of contracts between the stakeholders and MSU. Once fund raising for the new facility is substantially certain, a site will be selected and a building designed and constructed. MSU will finalize the curriculum for the medical school so that the accreditation process can be completed in time for the arrival of students. The Proof of Concept contemplates the first students arriving in 2008 and the full four-year medical school in place by 2010.
"My many trips to Grand Rapids have instilled in me the confidence and enthusiasm that this partnership is right for MSU, for West Michigan and for the state," said Simon. "There is much work to be done, but I am personally committed to our shared vision and to enthusiastically moving forward to fully realize the power of this exciting concept and shared vision."
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