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CMU Medical Education Partners
Improving Health Through Medical Education and Training
Graduate medical education in Saginaw
The Saginaw, Michigan medical community has been committed to enriching graduate medical education (GME) and research in the Great Lakes Bay Region for more than 70 years. Today, CMU Medical Education Partners and its three corporate members – Central Michigan University and teaching hospitals, MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw and Covenant HealthCare – uphold a long-lived tradition of serving patients and learners in the region as a premier academic medical center. After several years of GME, the three organizations operating in the city of Saginaw partnered in 1968 to create Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals, Inc. In 2011, the two remaining hospitals – formerly called Ascension St. Mary’s, which is now MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw, and Covenant HealthCare – added CMU as the third corporate member, forming CMU Medical Education Partners (Partners).
First established in 1968 as Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals, Inc., the entity was a partnership between the three hospitals operating in the city of Saginaw at that time. In 2011, the organizations collaborated with CMU, MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw (formerly Ascension St. Mary's), and Covenant HealthCare to form CMU Medical Education Partners.
A 25-year affiliation agreement signed by CMU, MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw (formerly Ascension St. Mary's), and Covenant HealthCare in 2020 provides a vision for comprehensive educational programs that will enhance medical services and public health initiatives, while providing a pipeline of physicians for the region for years to come.
Training excellent physicians for Michigan
Through collaborative efforts with the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University, Partners is responsible for eight residencies and two fellowships, which are home to almost 150 learners. Our residency programs are accredited through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, with Podiatric Medicine and Surgery accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. The CMU College of Medicine, which is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, was established in 2009 to prepare diverse and culturally competent physicians, focused on improving access to high-quality healthcare in Michigan, with an emphasis on medically underserved populations.
A team of approximately 70 physician faculty, employed by Partners, teaches residents and medical students at Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine facilities, as well as provides and oversees patient care at CMU Health clinics. Additionally, dozens of community educators employed by regional healthcare systems and in independent practices work with our learners as volunteer CMU faculty members.
Our two primary referral hospitals in Saginaw serve patients from a broad geographic area, including Northern and Mid-Michigan. With fewer learners in the system, numerous dedicated faculty members and a large patient population, Partners residents gain extensive real-world, hands-on experience.
Other educational offerings
CMU also offers state-of-the-art medical simulation training for students, faculty, residents and the greater medical community. The College’s institute for medical simulation is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Continuing Medical Education is available for physicians, nurses and advanced care practitioners. CMU’s continuing medical education is accredited with commendation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
Leadership
Wagner, Mary Jo
M.D.
Chief Academic Officer
Professor
Biography
Dr. Wagner is the Chief Academic Officer/Designated Institutional Official (DIO) for our CMU Medical Education Partners’ Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME). Previously, she was the Program Director for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program in Saginaw for 14 years. Dr. Wagner is known for her leadership in medical education and faculty development. She has served as a national Accreditation Council for Graduate Medicine Education (ACGME) representative for Emergency Medicine for the Duty Hours conference, the initial EM Milestones Workgroup and now currently serves on the ACGME Residency Review Committee for EM. She is a nationally recognized speaker on GME topics. She is very active in emergency medicine including as a Past-President of the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD), honored with the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Outstanding Contributions in Education Award and CORD Academy of Scholarship Distinguished Educator. She has been Editor in Chief of the emergency medicine written examination question and answer textbooks, the ACEP “PEER” series, for 20 years, as well as co-editor of 3 other textbooks.
More about Mary Jo Wagner
Publications & Presentations
Bethany Figg, Sally Santen, Clara Bihn, Troy Hicks, Mary Jo Wagner (2025). A Textual Narrative Synthesis on the Application of Hattie and Timperley’s Model for Feedback in Resident Education. Medical Research Archives.
Monks SR, Bidwell JL, Wagner MJ (2024). Making a Business Case for Investing in Graduate Medical Education. Journal of graduate medical education.
Wagner MJ, Frazier HA, Berger JS (2024). Navigating the Rapids: How Government Funds Flow to Graduate Medical Education. Journal of graduate medical education.
Figg BJ, Bolen O, Wagner MJ, Hicks T, Santen SA (2023). Resident Physician Interactions and Engagement With Written Assessments of Performance. Family medicine.
Gottlieb M, Bailitz J, Fix M, Shappell E, Wagner MJ (2023). Educator's blueprint: A how-to guide for developing high-quality multiple-choice questions. AEM education and training.
Shappell E, Wagner MJ, Bailitz J, Mead T, Ahn J, Eyre A, Maldonado N, Wallace B, Park YS (2022). The test developer's dilemma: Evaluating the balance of feasibility and empiric performance of test development techniques for repeated written assessments. Medical teacher.
Buchanan AO, Strano-Paul L, Saudek K, Lupi C, Jones L, Wagner MJ, Elliott D (2022). Preparing Effective Narrative Evaluations for the Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE). MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources.
Jones J, Yarris LM, Dorfsman ML, Wolf SJ, Wagner MJ (2021). Coaching educators: Impact of a novel national faculty development program for didactic presentation skills. Acad Emerg Med E & T.
Vance S, Figg BJ, Wagner MJ (2021). Graduate medical education tool kit for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program: Navigating the National Resident Matching Program supplemental offer assistance program. AEM education and training.
Khuder S, Figg BJ, Wagner MJ (2019). Love, Sanity, or Medical School: A Memoir. By Stephanie Benjamin, MD. Seattle: Amazon, 2019; 355 pp; $14.99 (softcover). Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Jordan J, Dorfsman ML, Wagner MJ, Wolf SJ (2019). The Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors Academy for Scholarship Coaching Program: Addressing the Needs of Academic Emergency Medicine Educators. The western journal of emergency medicine.
Figg B, Thompson M, Sewell P, Wagner MJ (2018). How to Make It Real: Disparities of Care Experiential Learning Workshop. Journal of graduate medical education.
Wolff M, Wagner MJ, Poznanski S, Schiller J, Santen S (2015). Not another boring lecture: engaging learners with active learning techniques. The Journal of emergency medicine.
Promes SB, Wagner MJ (2014). Starting a clinical competency committee. Journal of graduate medical education.
Alghamdi K, Alburaih A, Wagner MJ (2014). A Comparison between Emergency Medicine Residency Training Programs in the United States and Saudi Arabia from the Residents' Perception. Emergency medicine international.
Beeson MS, Carter WA, Christopher TA, Heidt JW, Jones JH, Meyer LE, Promes SB, Rodgers KG, Shayne PH, Swing SR, Wagner MJ (2013). The development of the emergency medicine milestones. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Beeson MS, Carter WA, Christopher TA, Heidt JW, Jones JH, Meyer LE, Promes SB, Rodgers KG, Shayne PH, Wagner MJ, Swing SR (2013). Emergency medicine milestones. Journal of graduate medical education.
Schneider SM, Gardner AF, Weiss LD, Wood JP, Ybarra M, Beck DM, Stauffer AR, Wilkerson D, Brabson T, Jennings A, Mitchell M, McGrath RB, King B, Muelleman RL, Wagner MJ, Char DM, McGee DL, Pilgrim RL, Moskovitz JB, Zinkel AR, Byers M, Briggs WT, Hobgood CD, Kupas DF, Krueger J, Stratford CJ, Jouriles NJ (2010). The Future of Emergency Medicine J Emerg Med.
Schneider SM, Gardner AF, Weiss LD, Wood JP, Ybarra M, Beck DM, Stauffer AR, Wilkerson D, Brabson T, Jennings A, Mitchell M, McGrath RB, King B, Muelleman RL, Wagner MJ, Char DM, McGee DL, Pilgrim RL, Moskovitz JB, Zinkel AR, Byers M, Briggs WT, Hobgood CD, Kupas DF, Krueger J, Stratford CJ, Jouriles NJ (2010). The Future of Emergency Medicine Journal of Emergency Nursing.
Wagner MJ, Wolf S, Promes S, McGee D, Hobgood C, Doty C, McErlean MA, Janssen A, Smith-Coggins R, Ling L, Mattu A, Tantama S, Beeson M, Brabson T, Christiansen G, King B, Luerssen E, Muelleman R (2010). Duty hours in emergency medicine: balancing patient safety, resident wellness, and the resident training experience: a consensus response to the 2008 Institute of Medicine resident duty hours recommendations. The Journal of emergency medicine.
Wagner MJ, Wolf S, Promes S, McGee D, Hobgood C, Doty C, McErlean MA, Janssen A, Smith-Coggins R, Ling L, Mattu A, Tantama S, Beeson M, Brabson T, Christiansen G, King B, Luerssen E, Muelleman R (2010). Duty hours in emergency medicine: balancing patient safety, resident wellness, and the resident training experience: a consensus response to the 2008 institute of medicine resident duty hours recommendations. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Schneider SM, Gardner AF, Weiss LD, Wood JP, Ybarra M, Beck DM, Stauffer AR, Wilkerson D, Brabson T, Jennings A, Mitchell M, McGrath RB, King B, Muelleman RL, Wagner MJ, Char DM, McGee DL, Pilgrim RL, Moskovitz JB, Zinkel AR, Byers M, Briggs WT, Hobgood CD, Kupas DF, Krueger J, Stratford CJ, Jouriles NJ (2010). The Future of Emergency Medicine Acad Emerg Med.
Epstein SK, Burstein JL, Case RB, Gardner AF, Herman SH, Hirshon JM, Jermyn JW, McKay MP, Mitchiner JC, Sullivan WP, Wagner MJ, Beer S, Tiberi L, Price C, Cunningham R, Wilkerson D, Bromley M, Geist M, Gore L, Singh CA, Wheeler G, Gleason SF, Decker J, Gwinner VM, Schwalberg RH (2009). The National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine: evaluating the emergency care environment state by state 2009 edition. Annals of emergency medicine.
Mahler SA, Wagner MJ, Church A, Sokolosky M, Cline DM (2009). Importance of residency program web sites to emergency medicine applicants. The Journal of emergency medicine.
Lammers RL, Temple KJ, Wagner MJ, Ray D (2005). Competence of new emergency medicine residents in the performance of lumbar punctures. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Reisdorff EJ, Hayes OW, Reynolds B, Wilkinson KC, Overton DT, Wagner MJ, Kowalenko T, Portelli D, Walker G, Carlson D (2003). General competencies are intrinsic to emergency medicine training: a multicenter study. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Wagner MJ, Thomas HA Jr (2002). Application of the medical knowledge general competency to emergency medicine. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Wagner MJ, Wightman J, Hamilton, G (1996). Objectives to Direct the Training of Emergency Medicine Residents on Off-service Rotations: Surgery, Part 3” J Emerg Med.
MacLean T, Wagner MJ, Nagy F (1996). Clinical Anatomy: A Review Course for Emergency Medicine Residents” J Emerg Med.
Monks SR, Bidwell JL, Wagner MJ (2024). Making a Business Case for Investing in Graduate Medical Education. Journal of graduate medical education.
Wagner MJ, Frazier HA, Berger JS (2024). Navigating the Rapids: How Government Funds Flow to Graduate Medical Education. Journal of graduate medical education.
Figg BJ, Bolen O, Wagner MJ, Hicks T, Santen SA (2023). Resident Physician Interactions and Engagement With Written Assessments of Performance. Family medicine.
Gottlieb M, Bailitz J, Fix M, Shappell E, Wagner MJ (2023). Educator's blueprint: A how-to guide for developing high-quality multiple-choice questions. AEM education and training.
Shappell E, Wagner MJ, Bailitz J, Mead T, Ahn J, Eyre A, Maldonado N, Wallace B, Park YS (2022). The test developer's dilemma: Evaluating the balance of feasibility and empiric performance of test development techniques for repeated written assessments. Medical teacher.
Buchanan AO, Strano-Paul L, Saudek K, Lupi C, Jones L, Wagner MJ, Elliott D (2022). Preparing Effective Narrative Evaluations for the Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE). MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources.
Jones J, Yarris LM, Dorfsman ML, Wolf SJ, Wagner MJ (2021). Coaching educators: Impact of a novel national faculty development program for didactic presentation skills. Acad Emerg Med E & T.
Vance S, Figg BJ, Wagner MJ (2021). Graduate medical education tool kit for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program: Navigating the National Resident Matching Program supplemental offer assistance program. AEM education and training.
Khuder S, Figg BJ, Wagner MJ (2019). Love, Sanity, or Medical School: A Memoir. By Stephanie Benjamin, MD. Seattle: Amazon, 2019; 355 pp; $14.99 (softcover). Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Jordan J, Dorfsman ML, Wagner MJ, Wolf SJ (2019). The Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors Academy for Scholarship Coaching Program: Addressing the Needs of Academic Emergency Medicine Educators. The western journal of emergency medicine.
Figg B, Thompson M, Sewell P, Wagner MJ (2018). How to Make It Real: Disparities of Care Experiential Learning Workshop. Journal of graduate medical education.
Wolff M, Wagner MJ, Poznanski S, Schiller J, Santen S (2015). Not another boring lecture: engaging learners with active learning techniques. The Journal of emergency medicine.
Promes SB, Wagner MJ (2014). Starting a clinical competency committee. Journal of graduate medical education.
Alghamdi K, Alburaih A, Wagner MJ (2014). A Comparison between Emergency Medicine Residency Training Programs in the United States and Saudi Arabia from the Residents' Perception. Emergency medicine international.
Beeson MS, Carter WA, Christopher TA, Heidt JW, Jones JH, Meyer LE, Promes SB, Rodgers KG, Shayne PH, Swing SR, Wagner MJ (2013). The development of the emergency medicine milestones. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Beeson MS, Carter WA, Christopher TA, Heidt JW, Jones JH, Meyer LE, Promes SB, Rodgers KG, Shayne PH, Wagner MJ, Swing SR (2013). Emergency medicine milestones. Journal of graduate medical education.
Schneider SM, Gardner AF, Weiss LD, Wood JP, Ybarra M, Beck DM, Stauffer AR, Wilkerson D, Brabson T, Jennings A, Mitchell M, McGrath RB, King B, Muelleman RL, Wagner MJ, Char DM, McGee DL, Pilgrim RL, Moskovitz JB, Zinkel AR, Byers M, Briggs WT, Hobgood CD, Kupas DF, Krueger J, Stratford CJ, Jouriles NJ (2010). The Future of Emergency Medicine J Emerg Med.
Schneider SM, Gardner AF, Weiss LD, Wood JP, Ybarra M, Beck DM, Stauffer AR, Wilkerson D, Brabson T, Jennings A, Mitchell M, McGrath RB, King B, Muelleman RL, Wagner MJ, Char DM, McGee DL, Pilgrim RL, Moskovitz JB, Zinkel AR, Byers M, Briggs WT, Hobgood CD, Kupas DF, Krueger J, Stratford CJ, Jouriles NJ (2010). The Future of Emergency Medicine Journal of Emergency Nursing.
Wagner MJ, Wolf S, Promes S, McGee D, Hobgood C, Doty C, McErlean MA, Janssen A, Smith-Coggins R, Ling L, Mattu A, Tantama S, Beeson M, Brabson T, Christiansen G, King B, Luerssen E, Muelleman R (2010). Duty hours in emergency medicine: balancing patient safety, resident wellness, and the resident training experience: a consensus response to the 2008 Institute of Medicine resident duty hours recommendations. The Journal of emergency medicine.
Wagner MJ, Wolf S, Promes S, McGee D, Hobgood C, Doty C, McErlean MA, Janssen A, Smith-Coggins R, Ling L, Mattu A, Tantama S, Beeson M, Brabson T, Christiansen G, King B, Luerssen E, Muelleman R (2010). Duty hours in emergency medicine: balancing patient safety, resident wellness, and the resident training experience: a consensus response to the 2008 institute of medicine resident duty hours recommendations. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Schneider SM, Gardner AF, Weiss LD, Wood JP, Ybarra M, Beck DM, Stauffer AR, Wilkerson D, Brabson T, Jennings A, Mitchell M, McGrath RB, King B, Muelleman RL, Wagner MJ, Char DM, McGee DL, Pilgrim RL, Moskovitz JB, Zinkel AR, Byers M, Briggs WT, Hobgood CD, Kupas DF, Krueger J, Stratford CJ, Jouriles NJ (2010). The Future of Emergency Medicine Acad Emerg Med.
Epstein SK, Burstein JL, Case RB, Gardner AF, Herman SH, Hirshon JM, Jermyn JW, McKay MP, Mitchiner JC, Sullivan WP, Wagner MJ, Beer S, Tiberi L, Price C, Cunningham R, Wilkerson D, Bromley M, Geist M, Gore L, Singh CA, Wheeler G, Gleason SF, Decker J, Gwinner VM, Schwalberg RH (2009). The National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine: evaluating the emergency care environment state by state 2009 edition. Annals of emergency medicine.
Mahler SA, Wagner MJ, Church A, Sokolosky M, Cline DM (2009). Importance of residency program web sites to emergency medicine applicants. The Journal of emergency medicine.
Lammers RL, Temple KJ, Wagner MJ, Ray D (2005). Competence of new emergency medicine residents in the performance of lumbar punctures. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Reisdorff EJ, Hayes OW, Reynolds B, Wilkinson KC, Overton DT, Wagner MJ, Kowalenko T, Portelli D, Walker G, Carlson D (2003). General competencies are intrinsic to emergency medicine training: a multicenter study. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Wagner MJ, Thomas HA Jr (2002). Application of the medical knowledge general competency to emergency medicine. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.
Wagner MJ, Wightman J, Hamilton, G (1996). Objectives to Direct the Training of Emergency Medicine Residents on Off-service Rotations: Surgery, Part 3” J Emerg Med.
MacLean T, Wagner MJ, Nagy F (1996). Clinical Anatomy: A Review Course for Emergency Medicine Residents” J Emerg Med.
Credentials, Certifications & Awards
Gloria Kuhn Award for Outstanding Mentorship and Allyship in Emergency Medicine Education, Inaugural Honoree
Excellence in TeachinTeaching Award for Community Faculty MSUCHM, Midland Campus
Excellence in Teaching Award for Community Faculty
Excellence in Teaching Award
Outstanding Contributions to Emergency Medicine Education award
Physician of the Month
Distinguished Educator Award (Enduring Materials category)
Outstanding Contributions to Education Award
Frederic L Fraiser Award
MCEP Outstanding Service Award
Genevieve de Beaubien, MD award
National Emergency Medicine Faculty Teaching Award
Augustine D'Orta Award (national award for excellence in health policy and community service)
911 Award (national award for legislative advocacy)
EMRAM Excellence in Teaching Award
Invited Graduation Speaker
Excellence in Teaching Award for full time Faculty
Covenant Fund Faculty Award
Awarded Scholarship for Teaching Fellowship
John A. Rupke, MD Lifetime Achievement Award
Excellence in TeachinTeaching Award for Community Faculty MSUCHM, Midland Campus
Excellence in Teaching Award for Community Faculty
Excellence in Teaching Award
Outstanding Contributions to Emergency Medicine Education award
Physician of the Month
Distinguished Educator Award (Enduring Materials category)
Outstanding Contributions to Education Award
Frederic L Fraiser Award
MCEP Outstanding Service Award
Genevieve de Beaubien, MD award
National Emergency Medicine Faculty Teaching Award
Augustine D'Orta Award (national award for excellence in health policy and community service)
911 Award (national award for legislative advocacy)
EMRAM Excellence in Teaching Award
Invited Graduation Speaker
Excellence in Teaching Award for full time Faculty
Covenant Fund Faculty Award
Awarded Scholarship for Teaching Fellowship
John A. Rupke, MD Lifetime Achievement Award
Education
B.A., Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (MA)
M.D., Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (MA)
Residency, St Vincent Medical Center/The Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio (OH)
Mini-Fellowship, UTSW/American College of Emergency Physicians, Dallas
M.D., Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (MA)
Residency, St Vincent Medical Center/The Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio (OH)
Mini-Fellowship, UTSW/American College of Emergency Physicians, Dallas
Membership in Professional Organizations
American College of Emergency Physicians
Association of American Medical Colleges
Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors
Michigan State Medical Society
National Association of Designated Institutional Officials
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Association of American Medical Colleges
Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors
Michigan State Medical Society
National Association of Designated Institutional Officials
Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
CMU Medical Education Partners Board of Directors
Joshua D. Nosanchuk, MD PhD(hc), FACP, FAAM, CPE (BOARD CHAIR)
Dean, College of Medicine
Central Michigan University
Neil MacKinnon, PhD
President
Central Michigan University
Mike Erickson, MS, MBA, FACHE (VICE-CHAIR)
President & Chief Executive Officer
MyMichigan Saginaw, Standish, Tawas
Beth Charlton, MSA, BSN (SECRETARY)
President & Chief Executive Officer
Covenant HealthCare
Matthew Deibel, MD
Chief Medical Executive/Vice President of Quality
Covenant HealthCare
Paul Berg, MD
Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer
MyMichigan Health
Brenda Coughlin, MD
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Bay Health Centers
Michelle Trevillian, OTR/L
President and CEO
HealthSource Saginaw
