Development phase approved for two community-based medical education campuses
June 26, 2012
Dear Alumni/Alumnae:
We are pleased to share with you that on Friday, June 22, the Medical College of Wisconsin Board of Trustees authorized MCW leadership to enter into the development phase of establishing community-based medical education campuses in Green Bay and Central Wisconsin, with the goal of matriculating the first class of students as early as summer 2015.
As you are aware, on March 23 the Medical College of Wisconsin Board of Trustees authorized us to pursue expansion of a community medical education program in two regions and appointed a special committee of the Board to focus on this initiative.
Initially, a core team at MCW identified eight potential regional locations for the establishment of a community medical education program, including Green Bay, Fox Valley, Central Wisconsin, Northwest Wisconsin, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Janesville/Beloit, and Racine/Kenosha. Potential partners in Eau Claire and the Fox Valley, while enthusiastic, indicated that neither community was poised adequately to participate in the development of a community-based medical education program according to a 2015-2016 matriculation timeframe. Rather, the communities asked to be considered for program expansion within the next few years.
Leaders from the Central Wisconsin and Green Bay metro areas submitted numerous letters of support for moving ahead with the community medical education program – reflecting a significant level of enthusiasm across both the public and private sectors. Accordingly, our community medical education team undertook Visioning Sessions and site visits to these regions to validate the assumptions presented in the Background Study document (submitted to the Board prior to its meeting in March).
Early last week we presented the Board with an in-depth Site Evaluations report regarding faculty, clinician, facility and community resources, modifications to our prior pro-forma assumptions, and milestones which address each key development phase and which set forth target dates for approvals required by the Board to move forward with the next phase. As a result of our findings, we recommended launching the development phase of the program, which is expected to include:
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developing a faculty-driven curricular model
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securing philanthropic commitments
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preparing our application to LCME for expansion to a regional campus
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securing commitments from academic institutions and health systems for faculty, preceptors, facilities and technology
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receiving commitments from health systems to develop at least 10 additional residency slots per community by 2018
In the past several months we have engaged faculty leaders, administrative leaders, and faculty and staff at large in discussion groups to garner feedback and ideas. We also have met with alumni in the Green Bay, Fox Valley, Central Wisconsin and Eau Claire regions to discuss this initiative and gain input.
At 10 am this morning we disseminated a press release to media statewide concerning the Board’s authorization. We also are holding press conferences at 10 am and 3 pm at Green Bay City Hall and Central Wisconsin Airport, respectively, to discuss moving into the development phase of the community medical education program in these two regions.
This is an exciting and transformative decision, but much work needs to be done and many details must be addressed. We look forward to working with faculty and administrative leaders to achieve the milestones required by our Board.
We remain grateful for your engagement and support. Thank you again for your thoughtful insights and valuable comments.
Kind regards,
John R. Raymond, Sr., MD
President,
Chief Executive Officer
Joseph E. Kerschner, MD
Dean of the Medical School,
Executive Vice President