CMCH to partner with CMU medical school

Central Michigan Community Hospital will work with students at Central Michigan University’s School of Medicine.

“Central Michigan Community Hospital is a tremendous partner for our developing medical school,” said interim Medical School Dean Cam Enarson. “We’re pleased the medical students (can) use CMCH as a component of education.”

CMCH, 1221 South Drive, declared its partnership with CMU’s medical school at Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting, and is the first hospital to sign a partnership with CMU’s school. The school is in talks with other hospitals as well, Enarson said.
The partnership, signed Dec. 1, extends through 2016.

CMCH President and CEO Bill Lawrence said he is “absolutely sure” partnering with CMU’s medical school is beneficial.

“This is a spectacular opportunity,” Lawrence said. “It brings so much to our hospital.”

Students will likely work with CMCH during their first two years of school, Enarson said. Having students involved in the hospital will help all employees, Lawrence said.

“It kicks everyone’s game up,” he said.

Students also will bring the newest concepts and ideas to the hospital, Lawrence said, keeping CMCH current in comparison with other hospitals.

The medical school’s groundbreaking ceremony and the official establishment of a private fundraising campaign is planned for Feb. 17 and 18, said Interim University President Kathy Wilbur. Phone interviews for the four open associate dean positions will occur in mid-December to January, Enarson said, and the finalists will attend campus for an interview next semester.

The Board also announced it is pursuing appointments for four associate deans.

Biotechnology building

The Board of Trustees approved a project request for a new biotechnology building.

The proposed 126,000-square-foot building will cost $75 million, with an estimated annual operating cost of $1 million.

The Board said it did not know the likeliness of it being funded by the state. The question, Wilbur said, is if this is the appropriate time for the state to fund such a project.

“Funding is available at the state level,” she said.

If approved by the state, the building would be built east of the Education and Human Services Building.

CMU sent a request in last year for the building to the state, but the request was denied.
The university expects to make a required match for funds through private donations and university capital funds.

CMU has added 248 new donors this year and is up $270,000 in donations from last year, said Ted Tolcher, interim vice president of Development and Alumni Relations.

“This is phenomenal in this economic time,” he said.

The proposed building has been brought up in trustee meetings for the second year.

The design phase will begin immediately, according to Board of Trustee documents, and construction would be expected to begin in a year if approved. The estimated completion of the building would be 18 months after construction begins.