Davenport University and University of Michigan Health-West have a longstanding partnership that has allowed emergency medicine residents to use the university’s nursing simulation equipment.
Davenport University and University of Michigan Health-West are expanding their longstanding partnership with a new collaborative experience for residents, physicians, medical students, and nursing students to take place in the fall. The two institutions have been partnered for several years through giving emergency medicine residents from University of Michigan Health-West access to Davenport University’s nursing simulation equipment. The new expansion of the partnership will reflect the institutions’ commitment to strengthen the connection between classroom education and real-world practice.
According to an article on Davenport University's website, Debbie Bosworth, who serves as the director of the university’s nursing program, explained the origin of the partnership between the two institutions. She is quoted as saying, “The partnership began several years ago when Davenport first opened its nursing simulation laboratories to emergency medicine residents from what was then Metro Health Hospital. The partnership has allowed medical residents to use Davenport’s simulation space at no cost to support community learning and clinical development. That early collaboration laid the groundwork for a partnership that has continued to evolve, with emergency medicine and internal medicine residents returning to Davenport for additional practice, hands-on instruction, clinical skills check-offs and competency-based simulation experiences. What began as access to simulation space has become an annual tradition of interprofessional learning and skills development.”
The new expansion of the partnership will involve a three-hour experience that is currently in development to occur this fall. The experience will bring together 21 third-year medical students, 18 physician residents, including six first-year residents, junior-level Davenport nursing students, and nursing alumni. These individuals will come together to participate in group discussions and interactive activities that will work to identify the significance and importance of collaboration, teamwork, mutual respect, and professional awareness.
The initiative is under development between University of Michigan Health-West’s Dr. Adam Wolfe and Davenport University’s Shellie Raisanen, clinical coordinator, and Karen DeVries, professional lab assistant.
Bosworth said, “To the best of my knowledge, this will be the first collaboration of its kind involving University of Michigan Health-West physician residents and Davenport nursing students. It will provide a meaningful opportunity for future nurses and physicians to learn alongside one another and better understand the expertise each profession brings to patient care.”
The new initiative comes on the heels of an experience that took place this summer on July 29, 2026, which involved 30 University of Michigan Health-West residents utilizing Davenport University’s nursing simulation laboratories for hands-on learning and clinical skills development.
For more information about Davenport University, visit the school’s website.