Recordpub.com - NEOUCOM to add CSU, get new board Gov. Strickland approves changes to medical school

ROOTSTOWN -- Gov. Ted Strickland will appoint a new Board of Trustees to lead the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, following the signing of House Bill 562 by Strickland, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut and the Ohio General Assembly.

The bill also approves the addition of Cleveland State University as a partner in the NEOUCOM B.S./M.D. program.

The actions are a result of recommendations made by the Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration & Innovation Study Commission. The group convened to plan and make legislative recommendations to promote greater access and affordability for students and an overall improved quality of higher education in Northeastern Ohio.

Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut considered 18 recommendations from the commission as he prepared his 10-year strategic plan for higher education that was presented to Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly on March 31.

NEOUCOM's new board of trustees will be comprised of nine public individuals and two student members appointed by Strickland.

"I am extremely grateful for the tireless work and dedication from every board member for whom I've served, and look forward to working with the new appointees," said Lois Margaret Nora, president of NEOUCOM. "Chancellor Fingerhut recognized the hard work of the commission and NEOUCOM's vital role in serving all of northeast Ohio, and the changes endorsed by Governor Strickland will allow our colleges to fully deliver on our mission of improving health in the entire region."

Strickland also endorsed the addition of CSU as a partner in the NEOUCOM B.S./M.D. program, which allows students to apply during their senior year of high school, and, upon admission, enjoy the benefits of having a reserved seat in medical school when they begin their college program.

They earn a combined bachelor of science and doctor of medicine degree in six or seven years. Current partners in the B.S./M.D. program include Kent State University, the University of Akron and Youngstown State University.

"I endorse the inclusion of Cleveland State University to the B.S./M.D. program in addition to NEOUCOM's educational efforts with our current university and teaching hospital partners," said Steven Cress, chair of NEOUCOM's board of trustees. "I also support the transition of our board of trustees to one appointed directly by the governor, which will enable NEOUCOM to better serve the health professions education and research needs of all of northeast Ohio."

"With our current successful relationship with Cleveland State University as a partner in our College of Pharmacy and the Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health programs, this addition is a natural part of NEOUCOM's growth," said Dr. Nora. "Now, even more northeast Ohio students can take premedical course work at an accelerated pace of two or three years at one of four universities in the NEOUCOM educational partnership."

The final report of the Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration & Innovation Study Commission, including all 18 recommendations, was unanimously approved by the Commission's members. Commission members included: Dr. Michael Schwartz, President, Cleveland State University; Dr. Lester Lefton, President, Kent State University; Dr. Lois Margaret Nora, President, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy; Dr. Luis M. Proenza, President, The University of Akron; Dr. David C. Sweet, President, Youngstown State University; board members from each institution, and other higher education, non-profit and corporate leaders in Northeast Ohio.

The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy are community-based, public institutions focused on the interprofessional training of health professionals, offering both a doctor of medicine (M.D.) and a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.

The colleges' educational partnership includes the Rootstown, Ohio, campus, teaching hospitals, community pharmacies, two boards of health and four northeast Ohio public universities. Through these and other collaborative arrangements, the colleges participate in the Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health program and offers graduate-level coursework and research opportunities leading to master's and doctoral degrees in biomedical sciences and biomedical engineering.