Officials from both universities, including Marsha D. Rappley, MD, dean, MSU College of Human Medicine, Stanley R. Liberty, Ph.D., president, Kettering University, and Michael Harris, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, Kettering University, finalized the Early Assurance Program for admission during ceremonies at the Kettering University Alumni Lounge.

 

“Kettering University offers a distinct pool of premedical students for our Early Assurance Program,” said Dr. Rappley. “As a university at which premedical students work fulltime rotations in actual health sciences jobs during college, Kettering’s graduates are among the most sought-after medical school candidates in the country. They are problem-solvers who bring a real world outlook from the sciences to medical school.”

 

Kettering University President Stan Liberty said the agreement is a good step forward for health care in the region.  “Kettering is pleased to join with MSU on a multi-disciplinary approach that blends pre-medical education and technology-enhanced solutions that will assist with today’s medical challenges. Heightened relationships between tech-savvy medical doctors, engineers and scientists will prove to be just what the patient ordered,” Liberty said.

 

Kettering Provost Michael Harris agreed, emphasizing "this agreement is a clear vote of confidence in the pre-med program that we have developed.  It reflects on our growth in Life Sciences,” Harris said. “Engineers with training in the life sciences are able to envision new technological solutions to challenges in medical research.  I am proud that Kettering and MSU have teamed up and will provide new options for Kettering’s talented students,” Harris added.

MSU College of Human Medicine’s partnership with Kettering University is part of a growing network of collaborations MSU has established with local institutions with a long-term vision for enhancing health care in Flint and Genesee County.  Students at Kettering rotate fulltime work in their chosen fields with classroom experience, in 11-week intervals, throughout their 4 ½ years at Kettering.  For premed students, this means most have already been immersed in the health sciences at local and regional companies and are familiar with the needs of underserved populations, an emphasis at the core of the College of Human Medicine’s mission.

 

Kettering is the first private university in Michigan to sign with MSU’s College of Medicine.

 

Preference for the Early Assurance Program will be given to Kettering University students interested in caring for underserved populations. Candidates will complete a program of enriching clinical and service experiences, as well as academic advising directed toward admission to MSU College of Human Medicine.

 

During their junior year, students who excel in the Kettering University program may apply to the College of Human Medicine and selected students will be assured of admission and begin a relationship with MSU College of Human Medicine during their senior year of college. There will be two seats reserved for this program.

In March, MSU announced an Early Assurance Program agreement with the University of Michigan-Flint. Other Michigan universities participating in the MSU College of Human Medicine Early Assurance Program include Northern Michigan University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, and Grand Valley State University. 

 

Founded in 1964, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine was among the first community-based medical schools, with a curriculum that emphasized a patient-centered philosophy. As a community-based medical school, the College of Human Medicine provides students with comprehensive training in clinical settings that most closely parallel the environment in which many physicians practice. During the third- and fourth-year of the program, students complete a series of required and elective clerkships at one of MSU’s seven community-based program sites. The sites are located in Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Midland, Traverse City and the Upper Peninsula.

 

Located in Flint and founded in 1919, Kettering University enrolls 2,000 undergraduates in 13 engineering, math, science and business majors and 1,200 graduate students in distance learning programs in management, manufacturing operations, engineering, information technology and a popular MBA. Kettering ranks as one of the top 20 universities in the country and currently holds the #1 ranking in Industrial Engineering and #2 in Mechanical Engineering in its category in “America’s Best Colleges,” published by “U.S. News & World Report.”  For more on Kettering, visit: www.kettering.edu

  

Written by Patricia Mroczek and MSU news sources

810.762.9533

pmroczek@kettering.edu