Michigan is likely to suffer a loss of 6,000 physicians by 2020, said Central Michigan University Trustee Sam Kottamasu.

Kottamasu, the board’s Medical School Committee chair and a Saginaw radiologist, said because of this trend, medical school development is common among public universities as it is a plan being proposed across the country.

Building site opportunities have risen for CMU to pursue a medical school, as Saginaw officials announced Aug. 25 that 60 acres of vacant property was sold for the construction of a medical complex.

“The medical school is a very powerful economic engine for the area,” Kottamasu said. “CMU is the fourth largest university in Michigan … (and) has about 3,000 students in the College of Health Professions. It’s natural for CMU to develop on and build a medical school.”

Located off the west Saginaw River bank, the land was sold to Michigan Healthpark Development last week for $1. The eventual facility potentially worth $10 million, could involve a partnership with CMU in joint medical research.

Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said the university is working on agreements with area clinics, though it is too soon to discuss building sites.

“An actual physical facility is down the road,” he said. “It will be a discussion for the Board (of Trustees) to have this fall, or certainly by the end of the year.”

More information about the progress the university has made will be on the Board of Trustee’s, agenda during its Sept. 18 meeting.

Kottamasu said the deal would do well in Michigan’s economy and with the falling number of medical professionals.

“There is (evidence of) a 20 percent shortage of physicians in the country,” he said. “The shortage would be most severe in rural Michigan.”

Saginaw City Manager Darnell Earley said the combined research facilities could do a lot for the surrounding community and would give any incoming student population the opportunity to be a part of the city’s renaissance.

“We could see that as a new focus on diversification on the city,” he said. “It would help transform Saginaw into one of the more noted college centers.”

The project may also mend employment issues in the area, he said.

“I think it brings interest in job development,” Earley said. “Hopefully a new (medical) location could replace some of the lost jobs the city has experienced.”

Plans have been underway with CMU’s interest since the beginning of the year, he said. Though Saginaw’s agreement with Michigan Healthpark Development is limited, it can be pushed forward as the plan proceeds.

“We traditionally give one-year development agreements that are extendable,” Earley said. “My involvement at the city is to see the project gets done.”

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