Panel to be Chaired by Former US Congressman and State Senator Joe Schwarz
The Detroit Regional Chamber and Detroit Renaissance announced today the formation of a panel of distinguished business executives to develop recommendations for growing the region's medical education and research capabilities and achieving greater collaboration among the region's medical institutions.
"The business community believes medical education and research can play a major role in driving economic growth in the region and that a long-term strategy is needed to achieve this goal, said Detroit Renaissance President Doug Rothwell.
The panel will be chaired by former United States Congressman and Michigan State Senator Joe Schwarz, M.D. Dr. Schwarz recently served on a Congressional Panel investigating care at Walter Reed Hospital and is recognized as one of the state's most experienced leaders in health care policy.
"Business leaders are concerned that there continues to be inadequate collaboration among the region's medical institutions which could threaten access to quality care and the ability to maximize the growth potential of this industry, said Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Richard E. Blouse, Jr. "Dr. Schwarz brings a knowledge of the industry and a history of collaboration that will move the dialogue forward."
Panel members include: Randolph Agley, Chairman and CEO of The Talon Group; Jon Barfield, Chairman and President of The Bartech Group; Alfred Glancy, Chairman, Unico Investment Company; Richard M. Gabrys, Retired Vice Chairman of Deloitte and Dean of the School of Business Administration of Wayne State University; Daniel J. Loepp, President and CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan; Florine Mark, President & CEO of the WW Group; Leslie Murphy, Group Managing Partner of Plante Moran; Cynthia J.Pasky, President, CEO & Founder of Strategic Staffing Solutions; Daniel F. Ponder, CEO of Franco Public Relations Group; and Richard Russell, CEO of Amerisure Insurance Company.
The panel's objectives are to:
-- Identify steps to increase graduate medical education to meet the region's needs for more doctors across specialty areas
-- Identify short and long-term recommendations for substantially growing the region's medical education and research cluster
-- Develop models for increasing collaboration throughout the region among health care providers, systems and education and research facilities to ensure access to quality care to all citizens of the region and the growth of the region's medical community.
The panel is expected to complete their work by August 1, 2007.