Medical College of Wisconsin in Wausau accredited
The college can now begin recruiting students for its first class of 25 students.
Medical College of Wisconsin in Wausau accredited The college can now begin recruiting students for its first class of 25 students. Check out this story on wausaudailyherald.com: http://wdhne.ws/1yaEw7X
Nora G. Hertel and Alison Dirr, Published 10:09 a.m. CT April 7, 2015 | Updated 10:57 p.m. CT April 10, 2015
In this October 2014 file photo Dr. Lisa Grill Dodson, dean of the Medical College of Wisconsin's new campus in central Wisconsin, talks to members of the Daily Herald Media editorial board.(Photo: Alison Dirr/Daily Herald Media)Buy Photo
WAUSAU – The Medical College of Wisconsin-Central Wisconsin has just reached a major landmark and can begin recruiting its first class of 25 students, now that it is accredited.
The dean, Dr. Lisa Grill Dodson, called the accreditation "a seal of approval," on Tuesday.
Two oversight panels — the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission — gave the college the green light.
"I would say bravo and congratulations to MCW," said Marathon County Health Officer Joan Theurer.
The new campus is affiliated with Milwaukee's Medical College of Wisconsin. And many members of the local community have been involved in bringing the medical college to the area, Dodson said.
While the concept of a regional campus is not a new one, Dodson said, the central Wisconsin site will stand out for a three reasons. The primary difference is that students will complete their course and clinical work in three years rather than four, plus the class size is limited to 25 students and the training will take place far from a large-city campus.
That geography will play a major role in the college's recruitment efforts and its long term goal, which is to provide home-grown physicians and psychiatrists who are in high demand in central Wisconsin, Dodson said.
"It's much easier to retain students that have a tie to the area already than it is to recruit doctors from elsewhere," she said. "It's really a better model to train people closer to where you want them to practice."
Joan Theurer (Photo: Contributed photo)
An extra benefit of the college, Theurer said, will be the program's emphasis on public health. "We will have physicians with a better understanding of the interplay between behavioral health and social issues."
During the accreditation process, the college's three-year curriculum was under the microscope, Dodson said. Reviewers had to ensure that the program covers the same material as four-year programs. And those accreditors will continue to follow up with the college as it takes root, Dodson said.
A sister campus in Green Bay is one year ahead of the central Wisconsin site and will launch this July. The central Wisconsin campus will start recruiting this year and begin classes in Wausau in July 2016.
Classroom and administrative space is under construction at Aspirus Wausau Hospital right now, Dodson said. And some classes will take place on the Northcentral Technical College campus. Other partners of the project include the University of Wisconsin in Marshfield/Wood County, Marathon County and Stevens Point as well as Ministry Health Care and the Tomah VA Medical Center.
"I think people are finding this is a much more economical way to deliver education," Dodson said.
Alison Dirr can be reached at 715-845-0658. Find her on Twitter as @AlisonDirr. Nora G. Hertel can be reached at 715-845-0665. Find her on Twitter as @nghertel.
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