The announcement was made before a crowd of Saginaw community leaders this morning.
The agreement calls for CMU to take over a controlling interest in Synergy Medical, which, as of January 1, will be renamed CMU Medical Education Partners. Synergy currently educates medical students from Michigan State University and Ross University in the Caribbean.
The organization has been around since 1968.
The partners say they hope to help remedy a physician shortage by educating doctors who will remain in our state. The plan is to have students get their education on CMU's main campus in Mount Pleasant and in Saginaw. Much of the learning will be hands-on medical education at St. Mary's of Michigan and Covenant HealthCare.
The partners call this a win-win for Saginaw and future CMU medical students.
"Saginaw's blessed with the very large medical community: 580 doctors and about 1,000 hospital beds, and very vibrant medical programs - all sub-specialties. And so it's the perfect place for medical students and medical students to learn," Covenant HealthCare President/CEO Spence Maidlow said.
The partners involved believe the new CMU Medical Education Partners will be good for students, patients and the entire community.
It's taken a few years, but today marks a major development for Central Michigan University and its medical education program.
"Starting a new medical school is not rocket science. It's much harder than rocket science," Maidlow said.
"Today's announcement establishes Saginaw for the CMU College of Medicine," CMU President Dr. George Ross said.
Under the agreement, medical students will do their clinicals in Saginaw. For Synergy Medical, which is already affiliated with two other universities, the partnership is a game changer.
"We've dreamed of being more than we are, and this takes us to a university-type of level," Synergy Medical Education Alliance President/CEO Terry Lerash said.
The leaders of Saginaw's two hospitals believe this direct relationship with CMU will benefit students and patients.
John Graham is the president and CEO of St. Mary's "As we go out an recruit new physicians and they understand they'll be part of the faculty of a medical school, it will be easier to attract the best and the brightest."
Around 100 students are expected to live and learn in Saginaw when the medical school gets going, benefiting the entire community.
"We think they'll go to local businesses, coffee houses, restaurants," Graham predicted.
Saginaw City Manager Darnell Earley sees the potential for even more. "This is very indicative of the very kind of partnerships and ongoing collaborations that are going to be necessary in helping us reinvent Saginaw."
CMU has also designated 10 affiliate hospitals throughout the state where students will gain even more hands-on medical education.
