Wayne State University President Irvin D. Reid today (May 19) voiced strong support for the selection of the new Chief Executive Officer of The Detroit Medical Center (DMC), Dr. Arthur Porter.

Reid, who is a member of the Board of Trustees of the DMC, pledged close cooperation between the two entities in fulfilling the mission of the integrated academic medical center.

The president said: "The developments over the past few days have reaffirmed the importance of the long-standing affiliation agreement between WSU and the DMC. These developments underscore the importance of collaborative decision-making and insure the future of one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.

He continued, "In selecting Arthur Porter as president and CEO, the DMC has acknowledged the importance of the relationship between the academic enterprise and quality health care. We are extremely pleased with this decision, and I was an enthusiastic proponent of this action taken at a recent meeting of the DMC Executive Committee. This action went a long way toward addressing the concerns the university had regarding the long-term stability of our affiliation agreement."

Dr. Reid praised Dr. Porter as "an individual who both accepts and has contributed to the integral role of the WSU School of Medicine in the DMC. He is committed to the mission of an integrated academic medical center. His many accomplishments in clinical care, research, education and administration make him singularly qualified to lead this partnership at a time when the national health care crisis has hit hard here in Detroit."

"In Dr. Porter's first action announced today," said Reid, "he has provided the basis for an enhanced and strengthened affiliation between WSU's School of Medicine and the DMC. As a senior officer of the DMC, the dean of medicine will continue to make every effort to see that WSU's academic excellence and research prowess will simultaneously raise the level of health care provided to citizens of Michigan, enhance the reputation of the DMC, and insure that the our commitment to the education of physicians and other health care professionals will be facilitated and strengthened."

Reid said that in the weeks ahead the university and medical center will demonstrate further evidence of the close working relationship between WSU and the DMC, and the shared commitment to providing the highest quality of medicine.