The funding will allow the university to undertake a number of projects, including expanded anatomy teaching, rural health, and economic development.
Central Michigan University has received $5.7 million in federal funding via three separate grants. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology, and will allow the university to undertake a number of projects, including expanded anatomy teaching, rural health, and economic development.
According to an article on Central Michigan University’s website, university president Neil MacKinnon was quoted as saying of the funding, “We are deeply grateful to our lawmakers for securing this vital federal funding that invests in programs and research that furthers CMU’s mission of making a positive impact in the communities we serve. By expanding healthcare training and access in underserved communities and driving innovations supporting our national security, these projects will make a profound difference, especially across rural Michigan.”
Of the nearly $6 million, $1.2 million comes through the U.S. Department of Education thanks to the office of Sen. Gary Peters. The funding will expand upon previous funding the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions received to implement a project that gives CMU faculty members the ability to partner with high school teachers to teach a dual-enrollment, college-level anatomy and physiology course.
With the previous round of funding the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions received, it was able to partner with four rural high schools in the Great Lakes Bay Region. With this new round of funding, it can now expand the number of high schools it works with, further broadening access to healthcare education for rural high school students.
Greg Zimmerman, who serves as the college of health profession’s associate dean, said of the project, “Our goals with this grant and partnerships with select schools are to introduce secondary students to university-level education, demonstrate to them they can be successful in college-level coursework, inspire them to pursue a health or medical degree at a college or university and encourage them to return to their communities to serve in their health professions career.”
Speaking of his involvement in securing the funding, Sen. Gary Peters said, “Michigan’s rural communities are in critical need of well-trained health care professionals that can help meet the unique staffing challenges they currently face. I was proud to secure $1.226 million to support Central Michigan University’s innovative approach to bringing training opportunities directly to students in the communities that need it most. This project will help to address workforce shortages and expand access to the health care that rural Michiganders deserve.”
The office of U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet was responsible for securing the funding from the second grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The $1 million award will allow the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University to provide access to training for healthcare specialty services in rural areas through a mobile simulation unit.
The funding will provide for the purchase of medical and surgical simulators, ultrasound machines, medical equipment, and high-speed internet to be installed in a mobile simulation unit. The unit will be able to bring training to rural areas that otherwise do not have access to this equipment, providing physicians and healthcare providers with the opportunity to expand their skills.
Dr. Steven Vance, who serves as the associate dean of clinical education in the Office of Medical Education, said, “This funding will provide critical technical infrastructure that will allow us to extend highly effective simulation-based medical training to rural and underserved areas of Michigan, including rural VA practices and critical access hospitals. Consistent with our mission, this educational outreach will enhance access to care in these regions and improve patient safety. We are grateful for Congresswoman McDonald Rivet’s support of this transformative project.”
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet said, “We owe our veterans the very best care. That means making sure they can access the latest medical training and expertise, whether they’re seen at a VA clinic or a rural hospital here in mid-Michigan. We fought hard to secure this funding because where you live shouldn’t determine the quality of care you receive. It’s exciting to see it becoming a reality that will make a real difference for veterans and families across our communities.
The final award, which totals more than $3.5 million, comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology and was secured by the office of U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar. The funding will benefit the CMU Research Corporation to develop advanced research into national security technology in rural mid-Michigan.
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar said, “CMU is conducting innovative research on critical minerals, which supports economic growth and job creation. This funding for the CMURC will bring additional coordination between the university and industry leaders to help develop this vital industry here in rural Michigan. As the only member on the House Appropriations Committee from our state, I will always work to ensure vital federal funding is brought back to Michigan to strengthen rural communities and improve quality of life for residents.”
Erin Strang, the president and CEO of CMURC, said, “This investment deepens industry collaboration, prepares a next-generation workforce, and transforms research into lasting economic momentum for our region.”
For more information about Central Michigan University, visit the school’s website.