Medical Center Emergency Services, the faculty practice group in the School of Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine, recently contributed $350,000 to the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons.
"This generous gift represents the first major contribution to this project by a faculty practice group at the School of Medicine," said Dean Robert Mentzer, M.D. "As the Mazurek Medical Education Commons draws closer to becoming a reality, it's encouraging to see such remarkable support come from within."
The donation will name a state-of-the-art human patient simulation laboratory in the 14,000-square-foot Clinical Skills Center located in the new building. Named in honor of the Department of Emergency Medicine and MCES, the room will feature the latest in patient simulator technology. These innovative devices are designed to provide hands-on training to students prior to treating live patients. They range from infant to adult and have the ability to speak, breathe, bleed and even react to medication. Human patient simulators are a key component of future medical curriculums and will play a central role in education at the School of Medicine.
"On a yearly basis, MCES provides supplemental financial support to its academic mission," said Padraic Sweeny, M.D., MCES president and WSU clinical associate professor. "The opportunity to make a significant contribution to the educational mission of the School of Medicine was welcomed by the MCES Board. In doing so, it furthers the commitment of MCES to take a leadership role at this institution by supporting the Department of Emergency Medicine."
New programs and teaching devices like human patient simulators will establish the MMEC as the heart of medical education at the School of Medicine.
"As a department of the School of Medicine fully committed to teaching medical students and residents, we believe the Mazurek Medical Education Commons will markedly enhance their educational experiences," said Suzanne White, MD., chair of the WSU Department of Emergency Medicine.