On December 2, 2010, the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees approved the establishment of a formal relationship with Synergy Medical Education Alliance, Covenant HealthCare and St. Mary’s of Michigan in Saginaw, Michigan, through its College of Medicine.

Under the terms of the agreement, CMU will join in the Synergy Medical Education Alliance partnership and the organization will be renamed CMU Medical Education Partners effective Jan. 1, 2011.

To finalize the relationship, the boards of Covenant HealthCare, St. Mary’s of Michigan, Synergy Medical Education Alliance and Central Michigan University must approve the relationship agreement. It is anticipated that the required board approvals will be secured by mid-December.

The board also approved the formation of a new 501(c)(3) Michigan nonprofit corporation to serve as the University’s participant in clinical practice entities and medical education relationships.

CMU College of Medicine students will be involved in longitudinal clerkships throughout their four years, gaining hands-on experience and providing care for patients at hospitals and medical centers across the region.