Nancy Schlichting, president and chief executive officer of Henry Ford Health System, and Omar Blaik, founder and president of U3 Ventures, will present "Eds & Meds: An anchor institution strategy for reviving Detroit," during the Wayne State University Alumni Association's Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives Lecture Series, Thursday, March 3, noon to 1 p.m.
The event will be held at Alumni House, 441 Ferry Mall on Wayne State's main campus.
Schlichting and Blaik will discuss how anchor institutions hold the key to sustainable community and economic development, and how leveraging their resources can lead to more businesses, jobs and, ultimately, more residents. They will highlight how the anchor institution strategy is being applied to Midtown Detroit with examples of recently launched initiatives such as Live Midtown, a residential incentive program.
Schlichting is credited with leading Henry Ford Health System through a financial turnaround and for award-winning patient safety, customer service and diversity initiatives. Blaik, who launched U3 Ventures in 2006, is a former senior vice president at the University of Pennsylvania, where he led a $2 billion development initiative that transformed the campus and surrounding West Philadelphia community. U3 Ventures is working with Midtown institutions, including Wayne State, to develop sustainable economic development strategies.
"Wayne State University has more than 100,000 alumni in Southeast Michigan, many of whom are engaged in and support our efforts to revitalize Midtown," said Chris Cahill, associate executive director of the WSU Alumni Association. "There is a keen understanding that the success of the city affects the entire region and state. The collaboration of individuals, institutions, businesses and community organizations within the city is a vital component in the process. Programs like the Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives Lecture Series help make the connection."
The Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives Lecture Series is one of many ways the Alumni Association offers alumni and the public an opportunity to connect with the university while gaining new cultural insights. The series provides interesting commentaries on a wide range of subjects in fields such as politics, business, economics, law and the arts.
The lecture, sponsored by DTE Energy Foundation, is free and open to the public. Reservations are required. To RSVP, call (877) WSU-ALUM or go to www.alumni.wayne.edu/events.
Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.