Central Michigan University's College of Medicine has formed a partnership with Synergy Medical Education Alliance of Saginaw.

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Saginaw's Synergy Medical Education Alliance Launched by CMU Board OK

Bay Regional Medical Center Welcomes Expanded Medical Education Network

December 18, 2010
By: Dave Rogers

The future of health care education in the Great Lakes Bay Region just got brighter.

Central Michigan University's College of Medicine partnership with Synergy Medical Education Alliance of Saginaw not only will ease clinical education but it will aid in accreditation of the new college.

"The Saginaw medical community offers a progressive healthcare environment and receives referrals from throughout East Central Michigan for a broad scope of specialty services," said Synergy CEO Terrance E. Lerash, already reaching out to prospective students.

"We know that you will learn much from the professionalism, cooperation and dedication of the physicians and healthcare professionals of our community."

CMU has also designated 10 affiliate hospitals throughout the state where students will gain even more hands-on medical education.

Bay Regional Medical Center (BRMC) of Bay City, affiliated with McLaren Health Care, also will benefit from the expanded educational programs.

BRMC officials issued the following statement: "Because of our high level service mix, and the fact that we already have a vibrant continuing education program at many clinical levels, we will be a vital part of the training program for the new CMU-based medical school.

"Bay Regional Medical Center has agreements with 49 educational institutions for the training of everything from entry level clinical employees to physicians. Each day, approximately 200 students make BRMC a training site for their continuing education."

Following approval earlier this month from the CMU board of trustees in Mt. Pleasant, the university has created a 501(c)3 corporation with Synergy, a Saginaw-based organization which coordinates medical education efforts in the area.

The partnership is called CMU Medical Education Partners, and will be an east campus in Saginaw for the College of Medicine, with the main campus located in Mt. Pleasant.

The partnership is expected to make accreditation for the College of Medicine easier, said Dr. Ernest Yoder, founding dean of the medical college, during the Dec. 2 CMU board meeting.

"LCME (the medical education accreditation organization) was very reassured by our relationship with Synergy," Yoder told the board members. "This affiliation will bring us into perfect compliance with them." Dr. Yoder is a former official of LCME.

Residents and medical students rotate at Covenant Medical Center - Cooper, Covenant Medical Center - Harrison and St. Mary's of Michigan.

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