Medical school initiative named educational 'deal of year'Oct. 26, 2010 KALAMAZOO--A private medical school initiative that leverages the resources of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two major hospitals has been singled out by Business Review West Michigan as the educational arena's Deal of the Year for 2010. The annual awards program, now in its fifth year, was designed by the business publication to honor the year's most significant business transactions in West Michigan. The publication's staff members look at every major industry and "call out the transactions that had or will have the greatest economic impact on West Michigan." This year, Deals of the Year were selected from among 30 finalists in eight categories. Earlier this fall, WMU's medical school initiative and its Sangren Hall construction project were named finalists in the education and construction categories. The winning organizations in all eight categories were announced during an Oct. 22 awards gala at the Grand Rapids J.W. Marriott that attracted more than 300 business and community leaders from around the region. Dr. Jack Luderer, interim dean of the WMU medical school, accepted the award on behalf of the University and its community partners in the initiative, Borgess Health and Bronson Healthcare.
Other finalists in the education category included: Kalamazoo College for its creation of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's $16.7 million investment in the Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellowships to train science and math teachers, and Grand Valley State University for its new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. A school of medicine in Kalamazoo has been under discussion and in the planning stage since late 2007. Earlier this year, WMU filed a letter of intent and was awarded applicant status with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the group that accredits medical schools in the United States and Canada. Also this year, a formal search for a founding dean of the school was launched. Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu WMU News |
