McDonald Auto Group gift expands healthcare provider training

Healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas throughout Michigan will learn from state-of-the-art medical simulation training thanks to a donation from McDonald Auto Group and a Community Project Funding grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The $365,000 McDonald Auto Group gift will purchase an RV-style mobile simulation unit. The vehicle allows faculty from the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University to bring advanced healthcare training directly to rural and underserved communities throughout Michigan, including rural VA practices and critical access hospitals.

“This is a wonderful project, and we are truly excited to give back to the community,” said Bill McDonald, owner of McDonald Auto Group. “We have businesses in five different communities throughout mid-Michigan, so we live, work and raise our families here. This will satisfy a great need and help so many people.”

The $1 million grant, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, kickstarted the project by providing funding for the vehicle’s equipment. This includes medical and surgical simulators, ultrasound machines and high-definition video connectivity.

“The grant afforded us the opportunity to obtain the simulators and medical equipment, and the McDonald family brought the project to life through their generous gift of the vehicle,” said Dr. Steve Vance, associate dean of clinical education for the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at CMU.

This is CMU’s second RV-style health care vehicle. While this vehicle will provide simulation training for health care professionals, Mobile Health Central has provided healthcare in underserved and rural communities — and hands-on training for CMU students — for more than a decade.

Expanding the legacy of provider training

CMU has provided simulation-based medical training at the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at CMU Stone Street location in Saginaw for many years, though access remains limited.

“A persistent challenge in training the rural health workforce is the time and expense associated with travel,” Vance said. “Further, the immense cost of the infrastructure necessary to provide the training locally is prohibitive to rural health systems. Now, we can take the training to them.” 

Vance said this collaborative project will continue to provide significant value for future projects in support of the college’s mission.

“By working hand-in-hand with our partners, we’re helping ensure healthcare providers have what they need to deliver the highest quality care to every individual and family they serve,” he said.

Jennifer Cotter, CMU’s vice president for Advancement, said this generous gift from Bill McDonald and McDonald Auto Group is a powerful example of how philanthropy can strengthen communities and improve lives.

“We are deeply grateful for the McDonald family's commitment to expanding access to high-quality health care across Michigan,” Cotter said. “Bill recognized a need and chose to invest in a solution that will benefit communities throughout the state, including those where McDonald Auto Group employees live and work. By making this mobile simulation unit possible, the McDonald family is helping bring advanced medical training directly to rural and underserved areas. This is exactly the impact our donors make.”