Central Michigan University Reveals New Medical College Plans
Central Michigan University (CMU) is making significant strides in the development of its new medical college in Saginaw, Michigan. On November 21, college officials announced the college would be named the “Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University.” This announcement came alongside two substantial donations of $40 million each from Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Health, which are pivotal to the project’s funding.
The new campus will be situated in a different location than originally planned but will remain within the Saginaw “medical diamond” district along the riverside, close to downtown. The original site was a vacant lot near the AT&T building on 309 S. Washington, but the new location will be adjacent to a MyMichigan Health hospital, less than half a mile from the earlier proposed site.
CMU President Neil MacKinnon expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to announce this extraordinary partnership that brings two of our state’s most respected health care systems together with our university to strengthen medical education, enhance the medical student experience, improve patient outcomes, and expand healthcare access here in the Great Lakes Bay Region.”
During a press conference, CMU officials revised the project’s financial goals, reducing the fundraising target from $200 million to $100 million. This adjustment follows a feasibility study that indicated the need to focus solely on constructing the new medical education facility, thus lowering overall project costs. Specific details regarding the building’s dimensions and completion date were not disclosed, though CMU officials confirmed that construction would commence next year.
The initiative to expand CMU’s medical campus in Saginaw has been in motion for several years. The project aims to enhance the number of healthcare organizations in the area, particularly within the riverfront districts where facilities like Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Health attract both patients and medical professionals.
Currently, the CMU College of Medicine operates facilities in Saginaw, providing education for approximately 125 students in their final two years of medical training. The expansion is expected to accommodate first- and second-year students, allowing around 400 medical students to study in Saginaw when the new facility opens, projected for 2028.
The expansion plan has seen some changes in leadership, with Dr. George Kikano, the former dean of the CMU College of Medicine, resigning in March 2025. His departure followed the exit of then-CMU President Robert O. Davies in January 2024. Both played significant roles during the early stages of the college’s development.
CMU officials also highlighted the pressing need for expanded healthcare access in mid-Michigan, noting that 74 of Michigan’s 83 counties are designated as health professional shortage areas. “The need for a strong, community-oriented medical education program and physician pipeline has never been greater,” MacKinnon stated.
The new building will serve as the central hub for CMU’s College of Medicine, while the Mount Pleasant facility will continue to support future expansions and developments in the university’s healthcare education programs. This expansion responds to the program’s growth, which has outstripped the capacity of the Mount Pleasant campus, designed initially for a cohort of 60 students when the college launched in 2012.
Plans for the Saginaw operations have gained momentum over the past decade, particularly in the last three years. In early 2022, the CMU Board of Trustees established a Health Care Special Committee to assess the university’s contributions to healthcare statewide. By late 2022, the board approved the committee’s recommendations to increase the capacity of CMU’s health professions and medical education programs.
In 2023, CMU leaders engaged in discussions with regional partners to identify growth opportunities, leading to collaborations with stakeholders involved in the Saginaw “medical diamond” project. These discussions included representatives from Saginaw City Hall, Saginaw County, Saginaw Future Inc., and the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce.
As the plans continue to unfold, the collaboration between CMU and local healthcare organizations promises to enhance medical education and improve healthcare access in the region, ultimately benefiting students and communities for years to come.
