Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and University Hospitals in Cleveland announced plans to have up to 24 third-year students from NEOMED’s College of Medicine perform their clinical rotations at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and several community medical centers, each year.
The collaboration aligns with goals of both institutions to train more talented physicians to serve the health care needs of the diverse population of Northeast Ohio. NEOMED’s average enrollment is 600 medicine students. While many of them are from Ohio, more than half of them remain in Ohio’s Northeast region (Cleveland-Akron-Canton-Youngstown) to practice each year? there’s much room for growth.
“I am incredibly excited to have forged this partnership with University Hospitals, a powerhouse academic health system. As the only public university in Northeast Ohio that trains physicians with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, this partnership improves NEOMED’s ability to fulfill our mission to serve Northeast Ohio, where it is already likely that your doctor is NEOMED-trained,” said John T. Langell, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., president of Northeast Ohio Medical University. “But as we are located at the epicenter of our country’s greatest medical hub – a short distance from many of the nation’s best hospitals ? we’re striving to educate even more physicians who choose to stay and serve patients in Cleveland.”
As a result of similar partnerships (some of which span 50 years) ? Akron Children’s Hospital, Aultman Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, Mercy Health Youngstown Hospitals, MetroHealth Medical Center, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, Summa Health, Trumbull Regional Medical Center, etc. ? more than 1,500 Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) graduates from NEOMED are currently practicing in Northeast Ohio. The University has other partnerships in Cleveland, but this is the first commitment of this size from a clinical partner in Cleveland.
University Hospitals, which also has other partners ? including a 125-year relationship with Case Western Reserve University ? recently signed an agreement to extend its collaboration with CWRU, allowing each to partner with others across Northeast Ohio and create new opportunities for region-wide progress. UH will continue its robust pre-clinical training for first- and second-year students as well as core and elective clerkships for third- and fourth-year CWRU students at current levels, and the NEOMED program expands the impact of UH’s academic mission.
“Developing the next generation of physicians to heal our communities is an essential pillar of our University Hospitals three-part mission: To Heal. To Teach. To Discover. Our relationship with NEOMED exposes their students to UH physicians who are distinguished in their fields and deeply committed to sharing their knowledge of the most advanced medical treatments and procedures,” said UH Chief Executive Officer Cliff Megerian, M.D., FACS.
With NEOMED’s Cleveland offices located at 2112 Euclid Ave in Cleveland, the University has gone all in on its promise to accomplish the goals of its new strategic plan which also include increasing its number of Black and Latinx students enrolled in its medical degree programs as well collaborating with others to bring positive change to issues regarding the social determinants of health.
“This UH partnership is significant. Yes, we have students who perform their fourth-year medicine electives (rotations) at University Hospitals, and of course, we have graduates with residencies at UH, but to have such a guarantee for third-years is a huge incentive for students,” added Rick McQueen, former president and chief executive officer of Akron-Canton Airport who now serves as chair of NEOMED’s Board of Trustees. “Opportunities like this combined with funding for more scholarships to prospective students are a proven formula for attracting and keeping our best talent here, as well as attracting others who want to serve our community.”
“The expanded relationship with NEOMED is a reflection of the University Hospitals spirit of collaboration within Northeast Ohio,” said UH Board Chair Art Anton. “We are wholly committed to leveraging the incredible medical resources within UH and throughout the region to improve health and grow economic opportunities for the people we serve.”
