MI-AHEC Hosts State-wide and Host Partner Consortium Meeting in East Lansing

This fall, Michigan AHEC hosted the first in-person meeting of the recently formed State-wide and Host Partner Consortium at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, Michigan. The Consortium was formed as a way for statewide primary care organization and host partners of the Michigan AHEC network to share information, data and a common health care mission to serve rural and urban underserved communities in Michigan.

The consortium includes the following organizations: Michigan AHEC, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Wayne State University College of Nursing, Covenant Community Care, Inc., Northern Michigan University, MidMichigan Community Health Services, Western Michigan University, Michigan Primary Care Association, Michigan Center for Rural Health, Michigan Health Council, Michigan Primary Care Consortium and Midwest Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research Center (MIPERC).

"We are very pleased with the positive response to the formation of the State-wide and Host Partner Consortium," said Dr. Tsveti Markova, Co-Principal Investigator of Michigan AHEC, Endowed Chair and Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education in the Wayne State University School of Medicine. "As organizations we have much in common and we can collectively work together to serve our patients, communities and healthcare systems in Michigan."

In fact, Michigan AHEC has already been working cooperatively with several of the consortium partners on projects, including opioid abuse programs. "Michigan AHEC has a history of collaboration with healthcare organizations throughout the state," commented Dr. Ramona Benkert, Co-Principal Investigator of the Michigan AHEC, Associate Dean of Academic and Clinical Affairs, and Associate Professor, Wayne State University College of Nursing. "The consortium is a great way to build on our common interests so we can improve outcomes for all our organizations."

The meeting in East Lansing gave partner organizations a chance to speak at length about future opportunities including: sharing project data, common links to medical, nursing, dental pharmacy and social work programs across the state as well as research and academic publication support and grant funding opportunities. Future plans for the consortium include forming strategic partnerships in these areas.