(L-R) Former Congressman Louis Stokes, CSU Pres. Ronald Berkman, NEOMED Pres. Jay Gershen, Cleve Foundation CEO Ronn Richard
The Cleveland Foundation today (Thurs) announced its donation of five and a half million dollars to a collaborative effort between Cleveland State University and the Northeast Ohio Medical University.Officials called the Partnership for Urban Health a model for the nation.Patients from around the globe have been known to journey to Northeast Ohio for its top notch medical care.
But many low-income Clevelanders miss out. That’s the impetus behind a partnership between the medical school NEOMED and CSU – to train doctors in urban-based medicine. NEOMED President Jay Gershen says there is a growing shortage of doctors in poor rural and urban areas.“You saw the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act which means more physicians will be needed to care for the increased number of insured and that includes Ohio and it includes Northeast Ohio. "Scholarships will go to students who agree to practice in underserved areas once they graduate. Congressman Louis Stokes noted the diverse mix of new medical students in the program and called the partnership a pilot project for the nation.“You saw those young minority students stand up here - you’ve never seen that before. That’s a beautiful picture. And so what’s happened here today portends what’s going to happen around America.”The partnership will allow the medical school together with the university to provide a team approach to health care with social workers, nurses, and other health professionals.