Central Michigan University Announces $100M Medical School Expansion
Central Michigan University’s College of Medicine is set for a significant transformation as it consolidates its programs in Saginaw, thanks to two record-breaking donations totaling $80 million. University and healthcare officials revealed the funding for a new $100 million medical education building during a news conference in Mount Pleasant on November 21, 2023. This initiative aims to enhance the physician pipeline in mid-Michigan for many years to come.
Record-Breaking Donations Propel the Project
The funding includes two remarkable contributions of $40 million each, one from Covenant HealthCare and the other from MyMichigan Health. These are the largest single donations in the university’s history and serve as the foundation for constructing the new medical education facility.
In a notable shift, the university will move its first- and second-year medical students from its main campus in Mount Pleasant to Saginaw. This decision will end the current model, which has students split between the two locations. CMU President Neil MacKinnon emphasized that this change will streamline the educational experience for students.
New Facility and Future Plans
The total cost of the new medical education building is projected to be $100 million, with plans for groundbreaking scheduled for 2026. As part of this transformation, the College of Medicine will be renamed the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at CMU. While the university has secured the majority of the funding, officials noted that approximately $10 million still needs to be raised to fully realize the project.
The consolidation aims to foster a more collaborative learning environment. By bringing students, residents, and faculty together in Saginaw, leaders from MyMichigan Health and Covenant HealthCare intend to create a robust team-based educational atmosphere. This arrangement will ensure that students have continuous access to mentors and real-time learning experiences.
With the new facility, the competitive medical program, which currently admits 104 students from over 7,000 applicants each year, is expected to expand its class size. This growth is intended to strengthen the pipeline of physicians serving the Great Lakes Bay region, addressing the ongoing demand for medical professionals in the area.
The initiative marks a pivotal moment for Central Michigan University and the surrounding community, potentially reshaping the future of medical education in the region.
