Michigan State University medical program expands UP campus

It looks like Michigan State University's Rural Physician Program will be expanding--and that's good news for the Upper Peninsula.

Michigan State University announced recently that its College of Human Medicine, in conjunction with Marquette General health System, will be expanding the Rural Physician Program, which will increase the number of medical students training each year in the U.P.

Since 1974, the college has been training medical students in the U.P. Eight to 10 students are accepted annually into the program, spending their third and fourth years of medical school at the College of Human Medicine's Marquette campus. The program now seeks to place up to 16 students per class year at the campus and expand training sites across the region.

"We extend an invitation to the physicians of our Upper Peninsula to join us in teaching the next generation of physicians," says Marsha Rappley, dean of the College of Human Medicine. "We also are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Marquette General Health System and Superior Health Partners as we work together to address the physician work force issues of the Upper Peninsula and all of rural America through a quality-driven health care system."

In addition to expanding the program, the college also announced that the U.P. campus would have a name change, as well as new leadership. Formerly known as the Upper Peninsula Health Education Corp., the new training operation will be called the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Region. In addition, the college announced that William Short has been named CEO of the corporation as well as community assistant dean of the Upper Peninsula region.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Marsha Rappley, Michigan State University