Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) recently treated donors to an “Evening of Elegance, Engagement, and Entertainment” while highlighting efforts of medical students, faculty, and staff to advance the institution’s vision of health equity for all in Southwest Michigan.
The event, held Tuesday, April 15, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites Kalamazoo, featured an array of delicious food, a performance by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra’s Burdick-Thorne String Quartet, and attendees got the chance to hear from WMed faculty and students about how donor support is making a tangible and lasting impact on their lives and pushing the mission and vision of the medical school forward.
“I want to thank you for the role that you play in the success of Kalamazoo’s medical school,” said Elyse Perry, associate director of Major Gifts at WMed. “Kalamazoo was built on the promise of community engagement and a culture of philanthropy. Our city has thrived because of the ongoing investment in this place that we are all so proud to call our home.”
Festivities began with attendees viewing a five-minute video outlining some of the medical school’s initiatives related to health equity, including Street Medicine Kalamazoo, which provides healthcare services for people who are unhoused, living on the streets, in encampments, in shelters, or other temporary housing, and the Firehouse Clinic, a student-run clinic formed in partnership with Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries that aims to increase access to healthcare for those struggling in and around the Kalamazoo community.
“Our vision, or what we aspire to, is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine,” WMed Dean Robert G. Sawyer, MD, said. “Since our beginning, we’ve seen seven classes of MD students graduate, thousands of patients cared for, countless papers published, and an immeasurable impact on the lives of those here in Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan, as well as globally.”
Dr. Sawyer touted the medical school’s global surgery elective in Liberia, led by Marc Downing, MD, a clinical assistant professor in the departments of Surgery and Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, and a pediatric surgeon at Bronson Healthcare, which has provided an “unparalleled experience for our students and residents.”
Dr. Sawyer also expressed excitement about the future partnership with Beacon Health System, which is in the process of acquiring Ascension Borgess, as well as a future collaboration with Western Michigan University - The Center for Health Aging. Led by Yong Li, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Medical Engineering and professor in the Department of Surgical Sciences at WMed, the center will support the promotion of healthy, productive, and dignified aging through state-of-the-art research, educational initiatives, patient education, community outreach, psychological consultations, professional training, and advice on public policy.
“Our aim is to increase understanding and promote constructive change so that society can adjust to the extraordinary opportunities and difficulties brought about by the aging population boom,” Dr. Sawyer said. “Our goal is to make the center a world-class authority in the fields of aging studies, aging care, and aging education, known for its thorough and creative approach to tackling the various facets of aging. We look forward to the great impact this initiative will have.”
Later in the program, first-year medical student Sydney Slepian shared the importance of scholarships and philanthropy in her medical school journey. Fourth-year medical student Andrew Mattingly, meanwhile, spoke about the efforts to launch the student-run Firehouse Clinic.
Former Western Michigan University President John Dunn spoke of how WMed came to be and its tremendous impact on the Kalamazoo community.
Dr. Dunn championed the medical school beginning in 2007 and garnered broad support, enthusiasm, and engagement for the new endeavor from the university, Kalamazoo’s two hospitals, donors, and the community.
In 2011, WMed was formed through a collaboration of WMU, Borgess Health, and Bronson Healthcare, with Dr. Dunn serving as the founding Chair of the Board for the medical school.
Reflecting on the growth of WMed over the years, Dr. Dunn said the impact of the medical school cannot be understated.
“The school of medicine is more than an excellent home to outstanding students, faculty and researchers,” he said. “WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine contributes in many, many ways to the life, vitality, and stability of our community. We can all be proud of the economic impact WMed has made in this community, adding 1,600 new jobs, providing $115 million in additional personal income, and fueling a $353 million increase in total sales in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.”
Contact the Office of Development at giving@wmed.edu for more information about how you can support the medical school by making a gift or becoming involved in our efforts.