Recognizing both the high vacancy rate in some medical jobs here - and sensing what he calls a need for a public medical school in the area, Ronald Berkman has championed a deal with the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy, based in Rootstown, to offer a Med School track at CSU's downtown Cleveland campus.
Its focus will be primary medical care in urban communities - in keeping with Berkman's goal of making CSU better reflect its urban surroundings.
DR. RONALD BERKMAN
"We're going to set out a clinical training program that will put students in neighborhoods, with families, and try to immerse them in what they're going to encounter in primary care."
CSU Med students would be able to attend all eight years of college and med school locally - but must maintain the same standards any four year post-graduate medical school would demand. Berkman says the advantages here are the neighboring medical institutions of Cleveland.
DR. RONALD BERKMAN:
"We'd like to have some residencies that are dedicated to the program so the students can stay in Cleveland and do their residencies, and then have practice opportunities."
He thinks Cleveland State would also be able to attract students who might not ordinarily consider the school.
NEOUCOM's combined B.S./M.D. program is already one of the largest of its type in the country, and grants degrees in six years. Doctor Berkman says studies show many students from urban settings thrive better under the longer program - which is why CSU will offer the 8 year degree.
NEOUCOM already has similar collaborations with Akron, Kent, and Youngstown State Universities.
