Two new physicians added to CMU medical faculty

As the first students arrive at the Central Michigan University College of Medicine, so are some new faculty members.

The university announced two Mount Pleasant physicians, Dr. Paul Simmons and Dr. Cara Anne Poland, are joining the clinical staff of the college.

Simmons, a University of Michigan School of Medicine graduate, heads a busy internal medicine practice in Mount Pleasant, which he has done for the last 10 years. He also has been working at McLaren Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant since 2004, and says he hopes his knowledge of mid-Michigan regional medical needs will serve the college well.

"I'm looking forward to working with students, and I believe in the CMU College of Medicine's mission to improve access to quality physicians in the state," Simmons says.

Poland is a more recent entrant to the Mount Pleasant health care world, since joining Simmons' practice this year. She specializes in internal medicine and in addiction care, having trained in the former at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, and the latter at Boston Medical Center. She will help CMU medical students learn both.

"I have a strong interest in educating physicians-in-training to improve care for patients with substance abuse disorders and general internal medicine," Poland says.

The first class of the CMU College Medicine accepted 64 students, 57 of whom are from Michigan, who will begin classes August 12.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Central Michigan University