Proposed WMU med School gets $1.8 million donation

By Fritz Klug

Western Herald

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.

Click here for more information on the medical school

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=11277

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Nov 3 2009. Filed under Breaking, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com