Saginaw Site Still Considered for Medical School Being Developed by CMU

Dr. Cam Enarson, Former Creighton University Official, Heads Area Project

July 12, 2009
By: Dave Rogers

Development of a mid-Michigan area medical school is now being managed by Dr. Cam E. Enarson, M.D., (Pictured Right) who recently was named interim dean by Central Michigan University (CMU).


Last year CMU announced an initiative in cooperation with doctors in Saginaw to develop a new teaching facility in the Mt. Pleasant or mid-Michigan, with the possibility of a downtown Saginaw site. (Please see MyBayCity.com Sept. 24, 2008, CMU Medical School A Go.)

The veteran doctor, educator and administrator will lead the creation of the medical school that, together with the greater community, will serve the health needs of central and northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

"I am excited about the opportunity to join Central Michigan University and help facilitate the development of the new medical school," said Enarson, whose appointment was announced to the university's Board of Trustees.

Dr. Enarson said the medical school is still working to secure the steps necessary for accreditation to take place. "We are continuing those discussions that began before I started with the hospitals in Saginaw," he said. "The affiliation agreements are not ready to be signed."

University officials are considering affiliation with facilities being planned with Michigan Healthpark Development, between St. Mary's of Michigan and Covenant Hospitals on the Saginaw River. Dr. Enarson also said he would be pursuing affiliation with Central Michigan Community Hospital, Mt. Pleasant.

The project has been in development stages for some time. "A lengthy investigation and numerous feasibility studies led the CMU Board of Trustees and administration to determine in September 2008 that the university is in a unique position to build on a strong foundation of excellent academic programs and community partnerships to create a regionally focused school of medicine," the university said in a statement.

Dr. Enarson commented: "The new school will play an important role in addressing the growing shortage of physicians in central and northern Michigan and in improving the health of the people in these regions."

Enarson was vice president for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., from 2003 to 2008.

He has been a professor of anesthesiology and health policy and ethics at Creighton since 2003 and also is currently a visiting scholar at the University of North Carolina.

His previous experience includes serving as senior associate dean of the School of Medicine at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.

He previously was an adviser and consultant at the University of Pennsylvania and an anesthesiologist at hospitals in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

In addition, Enarson has served on more than 20 site-visit teams and as a member of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME will serve as the accrediting body for CMU's medical school in addition to the Higher Learning Commission, which will review accreditation for the medical school curriculum.

Enarson's earned a Master of Business Administration degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; a Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Alberta Medical School in Edmonton, AB, Canada; a bachelor's degree in medical science from the University of Alberta; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.

He completed medical residencies in the surgery department at Wilmington (Del.) Medical Center and the anesthesiology department of the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore and also was a cardiothoracic anesthesia and intensive care fellow in the anesthesiology department at Pennsylvania State University's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Enarson will earn an annual salary of $335,000, including deferred compensation, and up to $70,000 in performance incentives.

Central Michigan University is moving forward to proactively address the future shortage of physicians in Michigan. CMU also is seeking an executive director of development for the medical school.

CMU is working on the development of the medical school curriculum and continues to explore clinical affiliation agreements along with preceptorship opportunities with local and regional health care organizations and physicians. These affiliations are an important step in meeting the accreditation standards applicable to developing medical schools.###