Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Western Michigan University School of Medicine took place last week in a move guaranteed to impact downtown Kalamazoo.
The 330,000 square-foot facility, donated by William U. Parfet, chairman and CEO of MPI Research in Mattawan, Mich. to the University for use by the new medical school, will undergo extensive renovations. It also will be slightly expanded.
Area physicians, community leaders, local residents, premedical students from the WMU Chapter of the American Medical Student Association and employees from the medical school gathered to see the ceremony.
"The city of Kalamazoo has a history of excellence in education, health care, research and life-science exploration--all of which are assets for the development of a new medical school," WMU President John M. Dunn says.
An announcement that WMU has gotten accreditation and with it approval to recruit students for its first class in August 2014 also came at the event.
Dunn says the $68 million investment to renovate and expand this building in downtown Kalamazoo will mean the School of Medicine will have an immediate impact on the community.
"A new medical school will contribute to meeting the national and local need for physicians and also bring benefits to the state of Michigan and Kalamazoo community. New jobs generate personal income for local residents," Dunn says. "Businesses in the wholesale, retail, service and manufacturing sectors benefit from the direct expenditures of the medical school on goods and services. In addition, businesses are recipients of spending by staff, medical students and visitors."
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Laura Eller, Western Michigan University School of Medicine
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