by Jennifer Kowalewski
While unveiling
Vision OHIO, President Roderick J. McDavis, Ph.D., stressed the
important role OU-COM has in the future of the university. In
his Jan. 17 speech, McDavis highlighted two key endeavors of
OU-COM — the continuing collaboration on the integrated learning
and research facility and the Community Service Programs (CSP)
feature in the November issue of Ohio magazine. McDavis
was joined by other university leaders during the first Vision
OHIO Convocation, which was held at Walter Hall.
“Our future is developing a
supportive, learning-centered research university, which
encourages all academic and academic support units to work
individually and collaboratively to achieve Vision OHIO,”
McDavis said.
Dean Jack Brose, D.O.,
took the president’s words as a challenge for the college in the
coming years. But Brose says he believes his students and
faculty are up to the challenges put forth in Vision OHIO.
“President McDavis’
inspirational speech underscored his ambitious goals for the
College of Osteopathic Medicine in research and community
service,” Brose says. “The students, faculty and staff of OU-COM
are committed to meeting and exceeding his expectations.”
Vision OHIO is
the university’s strategic plan that seeks to elevate its
excellence and national prominence, specifically as a research institution, and
to increase the university’s diversity, partnerships and
resources. The plan also aims to facilitate the university’s
ability to involve students in distinctive and interdisciplinary
activities that serve the educational, social and economic needs
of the region and state.
A key ingredient
for Vision OHIO’s success is better health-care opportunities
for those living in the community.
“Our ability to
achieve that mission is thanks in large part to the College of
Osteopathic Medicine, which recently celebrated its 30th
anniversary,” McDavis said.
“OU-COM’s impact
on the nature and quality of medical care in Appalachia was
recognized by Ohio magazine in its November issue. The
magazine named OU-COM faculty and staff ‘Ohio Heroes’ for the
support they provide to the college’s community service
programs. The health of our citizens in the region, state and
beyond is an integral part of our mission.”
OU-COM plays a
vital role in Vision OHIO, with its push toward research
development. McDavis also noted these in his speech.
“In order to
provide greater support of our collaborative research efforts,
we also must provide the necessary facilities to support this,”
McDavis said. “With the approval of the Board of Trustees, Ohio
University has begun developing planning documents for the
integrated learning and research facility.
“This modern,
approximately 100,000-sq. ft. facility will strengthen and
advance the university’s research, research education and
training capacity. Projected to open in early 2009, this
facility will bring together research activities in the College
of Osteopathic Medicine, the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ
College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Health and
Human Services and the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition
to significant health-care outcomes, the facility and associated
research projects will provide invaluable research and research
training opportunities for medical, as well as undergraduate and
graduate, students.”
Brose says the new facility
will not only increase collaboration, but enhance medical
research at OU-COM itself.
“Since becoming president, Dr.
McDavis has consistently demonstrated his strong support for
OU-COM’s research and community outreach programs. I am very
grateful to him for his leadership and for highlighting our
efforts to the University community,” Brose adds.
Brose says CSP,
with its free clinic, child immunization and medical screening
program, are essential components of the college’s commitment to
the community and part of OU-COM’s foundation of participation
in fulfilling the goals of Vision OHIO.
- 30 -
News for
the week of Jan
16 –
Jan 21
