CMU receives $80 million in commitments from Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Health

Central Michigan University’s College of Medicine announced today it has received two landmark philanthropic gifts from two of its health care partners, Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Health, in support of the College’s “Advancing Health Together” initiative. The two systems each pledged $40 million to support the development of a new medical education building in Saginaw, Michigan. 

The gifts are the two largest in the university’s history and stand as a testament to a united partnership committed to profoundly impacting the healthcare challenges and economic aspirations of the communities each serves, said CMU President Neil MacKinnon.

“We are thrilled to announce this extraordinary collaboration that brings two of our state’s most respected health care systems together with our university to strengthen medical education, enhance the medical student experience, improve patient outcomes and expand healthcare access here in the Great Lakes Bay Region,” MacKinnon said. “This tremendous partnership will have a positive effect on lives and communities for generations to come. Together, we are truly Advancing Health Together for our region and for the state of Michigan.” 

Moving forward, the College of Medicine will have a new name, the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University, and a new home in Saginaw in the CMU MyMichigan Health Medical Education Building, located on the MyMichigan Health campus. 

“As part of our decades-long commitment to medical education, Covenant HealthCare is proud to support the CMU College of Medicine and strengthen the training opportunities that shape the future of care in our region. Meeting our mission of extraordinary care for every generation starts with supporting education and training for the next generation of extraordinary physicians,” said Beth Charlton, president and CEO of Covenant HealthCare. “Assurance of a strong medical talent pipeline is foundational and requires both collaboration and resources. Individuals and families across the Great Lakes Bay Region are experiencing an increasingly critical need for well-educated medical professionals, and our mutual investment with CMU and MyMichigan Health reflects our collective belief in this partnership and our staunch commitment to keeping exceptional care and care providers close to home. Through Advancing Health Together, we are collaborating to ensure patients across our communities and beyond continue to receive the high-quality, local care they deserve—now and for years to come.”

"We are proud to be part of the Advancing Health Together initiative with Central Michigan University and Covenant HealthCare. It is one to which we are most proud as it allows our three organizations the honor to advance the future of medical education, and it will happen right here in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The collaboration will have a great impact on our communities, our region and our state now and long into the future,” said Lydia Watson, M.D., president and CEO of MyMichigan Health. “Since 2010, our partnership with CMU's College of Medicine has been pivotal in training future health care professionals. These students are not only equipped to deliver exceptional care but are also encouraged to serve in Michigan's most medically underserved areas, including our rural communities. This next chapter will not only help grow the volume of health care providers but also continue to pave the way for a future where health care is more accessible, equitable, and effective for all."

Across Michigan, and particularly within underserved areas such as the communities of the Great Lakes Bay Region, many individuals and families face persistent and profound barriers to healthcare. Currently, 74 of Michigan’s 83 counties carry at least a partial designation as health professional shortage areas.

“The need for a strong, community-oriented medical education program and physician pipeline has never been greater,” MacKinnon said.

CMU’s College of Medicine was established in 2010 to help address these disparities and rapidly outgrew its home on the CMU Mount Pleasant campus – growing from its initial cohort size of 60 to more than 100 students per class year. As a result, currently all first- and second-year medical students are educated in Mount Pleasant, while most third- and fourth-year students complete their education in Saginaw. 

This separation of the class years has posed challenges for student engagement, while consolidating classes in one location has proven to be best practice in the training of medical students. Moving the college to the new location in the Medical Diamond in Saginaw will strengthen medical education at CMU, said Dr. Tina Thompson, interim dean of the CMU College of Medicine.

“Bringing the majority of our medical students together into a single geographic area will provide greater opportunities for peer-to-peer mentoring and student engagement,” Thompson said. “It will allow for more interaction between and among students and faculty and open doors for further collaboration in research and clinical education across the region.”

The Medical Diamond project, located in Saginaw, Michigan, aims to become the state’s third bioscience hub and the only one serving the northern part of the state. The project brings together CMU’s College of Medicine, Covenant HealthCare, MyMichigan Health, and numerous other healthcare providers and educators. The diamond-shaped project sits alongside the riverfront in Saginaw and will also include a new riverfront park with public access and recreation.

With the confirmation of these two leadership gifts, CMU will move forward with the design and development of a new medical education facility in the Medical Diamond, MacKinnon said. The university hopes to break ground on its new site in 2026 and will continue to fundraise toward its $100 million goal for the building.

The shift of the medical school to Saginaw will also provide opportunities for expansion of other health professional programs on CMU’s Mount Pleasant campus, MacKinnon said. Nurses are in high demand, and our new four-year nursing program has launched and is ready to grow, he said.

“CMU, Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Health have a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients and strengthening the communities we serve,” MacKinnon said. “This unique, collaborative partnership is a perfect alignment of our missions and visions and will benefit each organization and the people we serve.”