The name change makes the College of Medicine comparable to the other colleges on campus, said interim dean Cam Enarson. It was an important recognition to make, he said.

“The naming of the college is just the internal components,” Enarson said.

Breaking ground

Enarson and Wilbur celebrated their first dig at the groundbreaking of the CMU College of Medicine later in the afternoon.

“They said it couldn’t be done in mid-February to have a groundbreaking,” Wilbur said, “but we’re doing it.”

The 60,000-square-foot addition to the already existing Health Professions Building is slated for completion by 2012.

“The more-than-$24 million Capital Campaign will go to new facilities, operations and scholarships,” Wilbur said.

Enarson said he does not know exactly how much has been donated for the College of Medicine so far.

“That’s not an appropriate question today,” he said. “It will be an appropriate question in the next month.”

Board of Trustees Chairwoman Stephanie Comai expressed no hesitancy when explaining her confidence in the university’s ability to raise the money.

“We will reach it,” she said.

By the beginning of the next decade, there will be a 6,000 physician shortage in Michigan, said Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Sam Kottamasu.

With the expected decrease of physicians, the graduates from the future College of Medicine will be trained to fill these positions, Enarson said.

“The students will focus the first two years of the program on-campus, working within Mount Pleasant,” Enarson said. “As far as the new affiliations with West Branch and Alpena, the last two years of the program will send students out working with different communities to gain experience in critical medical roles.”

“This is a key milestone for CMU to support a college of medicine,” Comai said. “With this addition to the Health Professions Building, we are creating even more energy and building on existing national prominence.”

External affiliations

External components also are being established.

A search for medical affiliations and partnerships is well under way, Enarson said. He has traveled about 11,000 miles around Michigan since January visiting different medical centers.

The completion of affiliations with Alpena Regional Medical Center and the West Branch Medical Center was mentioned at the meeting.

An additional affiliation with Central Michigan Community Hospital was completed before the board meeting in December.

The affiliations provide access and resources to the students of the College of Medicine, Enarson said.

Clint Bohlen, business analyst for the Alpena Regional Medical Center, said the medical staff thought the partnership was a great way to give back to the profession.

“We are hoping to provide a superior experience to these students,” Bohlen said.

But he also said he sees how the medical center will benefit, as ultimately the students will help fill a growing need for health care in rural areas. Bohlen noted how the medical staff may be able to learn from the students as well.

“It is also a way to remain current in the medical profession,” Bohlen said. “Students are going to have a superior education that they will bring into the health facilities. In the process, they will also be teaching us in a way.”

In addition, Enarson noted other affiliations in the works. The next step, he said, is to start building the College of Medicine from a structural standpoint.

Even though there are faculty members at CMU already interested in having involvement, external hires will not come this academic year.

A founding dean and associate deans must be found first, Enarson said.