The Central Michigan University medical school is still without affiliation.

Interim dean Dr. Cam Enarson said the medical school is still working to secure the steps necessary for accreditation to take place.

“We are continuing those discussions that began before I started with the hospitals in Saginaw,” he said. “The affiliation agreements are not ready to be signed.”

Several university officials have mentioned the affiliation with facilities being planned on the bank of the Saginaw River with Michigan Healthpark Development, between St. Mary’s of Michigan and Covenant Hospitals. Enarson also said he would be pursuing some sort of affiliation with Central Michigan Community Hospital.

At the December 2008 Board of Trustees meeting, it had been predicted the affiliation would come by this past spring.

Enarson said he could not give a timeline to when affiliation and accreditation by the Liaison Committee of Medical Education would be awarded.

“Instead of thinking about in a definitive timeline, I think it’s better to think about it in the steps that have to be taken,” he said. “Now that I’m here, I’ll be able to develop a better sense of how fast we’ll be able to move on that.”

To receive the accreditation, the medical school must display five items to the LCME board that will visit to certify CMU. Enarson said those five items are: securing administration, creation of a curriculum, preparing services such as advising for students, securing faculty and preparing resources for the school.

Enarson said what he is currently working toward is preparing the medical school for those LCME site visits.

“It’s like running a marathon, it’s not like running a 100-meter sprint,” he said. “Is the school ready for that initial site visit? That’s what I’ll be focused on.”

Enarson has experience to be able to determine the best way to present CMU to the LCME board. He served on it and visited more than 20 proposed medical schools, including serving as chairman to visits at proposed schools at Florida International University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Enarson also defended the medical school project, saying its value in the long run will far outweigh its value in the short run.

“Instead of (looking at) the realities of our economic situation, which are very real, look at 10 years down the road and see what CMU looked like without a medical school,” he said. “The benefit-and I really believe this-to the university is very real and will advance CMU. That’s the way I’m looking at it. It’s a difficult decision, but I think it’s the right decision.”

While the project was began by former university president Michael Rao, Interim University President Kathy Wilbur said the project will move forward with the Board of Trustees’ support.

“This is not just about CMU. It is really about the region and the state. There will not be enough physicians to meet the needs of this state in a very short period of time here,” she said. “I believe it is our responsibility. you have to be forward thinking.”

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E-mail the author: David Veselenak