Michigan State University College of Human Medicine has unveiled its new medical education and public health research space in the former Flint Journal building in downtown Flint.
The event comes as part of MSU’s expansion into the area including the launch of the college’s public health research and programs, along with doubling the number of medical students to nearly 100 being placed in Flint hospitals.
The new space consists of shared student areas, four study rooms, six clinical skills examination rooms, as well as offices for the public health program and workstations for the six principal investigators and research teams that are being recruited to the city.
“Michigan State is excited to have this opportunity to expand our medical education and research program here with the support of exceptional partners such as the C.S. Mott Foundation and the Flint-area hospitals,” said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. “It’s an important chance to conduct in-depth studies of public health problems and develop solutions that can be applied in Flint and in other urban communities."
MSU occupies about 40,000 square feet of the historic Flint Journal building –now owned by Uptown Reinvestment Corp., a Mott grantee that is leading efforts in the city’s ongoing revitalization. Over the next six months, more than 20 faculty and staff from the college are moving into the new space, with room for additional people planned.
The expansion was made possible with more than $11 million in grants from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the continued medical education support from MSU’s hospital partners Genesys Regional Medical Center, Hurley Medical Center and McLaren Flint.
“Our public health research component will build on the superb medical education and outstanding health care provided by Genesys, Hurley and McLaren,” said Marsha Rappley, dean of the College of Human Medicine at MSU. “We have already recruited two senior public health investigators whose research complements the wellness initiatives underway at our Flint hospitals and health organizations.”