|
MSU Board Endorses DO Expansion To SE Michigan
The Michigan State University Board of Trustees has approved a
resolution endorsing the expansion of the College of Osteopathic
Medicine to two sites in southeast Michigan, a move board members
and college officials say will not only improve medical education in
the state, but also address a projected physician shortage.
With the vote at its May 18 meeting, the board confirmed the
administration’s selection of the sites, which were visited by the
board on May 1.
Under the plan, the College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) will
expand its 2009 entering class by 50 students each at the Detroit
Medical Center’s (DMC) old Hutzel Hospital and at Macomb Community
College’s (MCC) University Center in Clinton Township.
These two sites were selected from a pool of 18 that submitted
proposals.
“Having a presence at both locations in southeastern Michigan has
many benefits,” said William D. Strampel, dean of the college. “In
Macomb County, we will be located at an innovative, state-of-the-art
educational institution situated among a high concentration of
osteopathic physicians and partner hospitals. At the DMC, in Wayne
County, we will be teaching our students in an environment that will
help them to learn how to meet the needs of an urban population.
“In addition,” he said, “we will continue our strong relationship
with the many Oakland County hospitals and physicians who have
provided excellent clinical education for us for many years.”
The college has been teaching students, interns and residents in
southeast Michigan for nearly 40 years, Strampel said, relying on a
large volunteer clinical faculty in the region.
Among the draws of MCC was its abundance of quality space, which
includes operating rooms with surgical simulators, a surgical
technology laboratory, a simulated hospital room and an anatomy lab.
The facility also includes high-quality space such as computer labs,
study areas and general-purpose classrooms.
In addition to its long and distinguished history of participating
in medical education, the DMC offers the potential for collaborative
research involving a diverse population, easy access to a number of
Detroit-area clinical and hospital facilities, and quality
facilities.
“As Michigan begins to experience a shortage of doctors, it is
urgent that MSU increase enrollment in the College of Osteopathic
Medicine, which is recognized as among the very best in the country
for primary care education,” said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon.
“By expanding to two sites in southeast Michigan, we can
significantly enhance the educational mission, while simultaneously
serving the area of the state with the greatest population and some
of the greatest need."
Producing more doctors from the MSUCOM will help combat a projected
physician shortage. According to the Blue Ribbon Committee on
Physician Workforce – a group composed of representatives from the
state of Michigan, the state’s four human medical colleges, and
other health-related agencies – Michigan will be 900 physicians
short by 2010, 2,400 short by 2015, and 4,500 short by 2020.
The osteopathic college will conduct classes for first- and
second-year medical students at the leased sites. The students will
complete their education, as do all students currently enrolled at
the East Lansing campus, by taking two years of clinical rotations
at one of MSUCOM’s 19 community base hospitals, part of the 26
hospitals affiliated with the college in its Statewide Campus System
(SCS).
The MSUCOM, which consistently ranks in the top 5 percent of all
medical schools for its primary care education, also has a
long-standing tradition of retaining its alumni in Michigan to
practice – more than two-thirds of the college’s graduates remain to
practice in Michigan.
In addition, approximately 90 percent of the college’s graduates
take internships and residencies in Michigan as part of the
college’s SCS.
Two years ago, the college increased its East Lansing entering class
size from 147 to 205.
For additional information, visit the Web at
www.com.msu.edu/pub-rel/SE-Expansion_may2007.html.
Back to
top
|
