Western Michigan University’s Board of Trustees announced Monday that the university should “actively pursue” the next steps in creating a school of medicine.
WMU President John Dunn said the “next steps” include submitting an application to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and hiring a dean pro tem to help formulate committees that are apart of the LCME guidelines and solidify relations with area hospitals in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.
It was also announced that an anonymous donation of $1.8 million was pledged to hire a dean pro tem to begin the accreditation process.
“[A school of medicine will] train physicians of the highest quality to treat our patients in southwest Michigan and beyond,” Trustee Chair Kenneth Miller said.
Trustee Dennis Archer noted that a medical school would not only economically benefit Kalamazoo, but also provide “tremendous” research opportunities for WMU.
“We are connecting the dots we already have in this community,” Trustee William Johnston said.
Dunn emphasized that no university money would be used and that funding would continue to be philanthropy based and that progress will be seen “no later than a year from now.”
WMU is not alone in pursing a medical school: in August, Oakland University began the accreditation process with the LCME and Central Michigan University has also announced their intent to house a medical school.
seems like poor timing if you ask me. maybe something that should be put off a year or two.