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Grand Rapids Medical Education & Research Center Names President & CEO

The Grand Rapids Medical Education & Research Center for Health Professions (GRMERC) Voting Board has appointed as its President and CEO, Peter Coggan, M.D., M.S.Ed. Coggan will also serve as associate dean of graduate medical education for the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Coggan assumes his new responsibilities April 2, 2007.

Coggan comes to GRMERC from Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, where he was Director of Medical Education. He also was an assistant dean and professor of family medicine at Wayne State University.

“Dr. Coggan is an experienced leader with tremendous expertise in graduate medical education,” said Lowell Bursch, M.D., Chairman, GRMERC Board of Directors. “He also has extensive medical student education experience. With medical education expanding in Grand Rapids, having someone with Dr. Coggan’s background in both education and the accreditation of programs is critical. His leadership will be important as medical education and research continue to grow in Grand Rapids.”

P. Douglas Kindschi, Ph.D., has served as interim President and CEO of GRMERC since May 2006.

“Dr. Kindschi has done an outstanding job of stepping in during this interim period of time,” Bursch said. “We thank him for his leadership and ability to keep GRMERC moving forward. He has kindly agreed to assist Dr. Coggan as he transitions into his new position.”

Coggan will guide GRMERC in its mission to enhance the health of the Grand Rapids community through a variety of allied health programs, medical education and research education. GRMERC will increasingly offer residents and medical students access to local research activities and teach them how to evaluate the findings of research studies. He will oversee the education and training of residents and health professions students in the community, and with the medical school, coordinate collaborative learning situations among these groups.

Coggan will also assist in increasing the number of residents in Grand Rapids and develop fellowships for residents, medical students and those in practice who desire more specialty training. Fellowships provide additional education beyond the residency so physicians can be trained in subspecialties.

Coggan has more than 30 years of experience as a physician, educator and administrator. He earned his medical degree from the University of London in England and practiced as a family physician in Ontario, Canada. Coggan has held academic and administrative positions at numerous universities in the United States including the University of California, the University of Nevada and the University of Washington. He also has been recognized several times for teaching excellence.

GRMERC is an education and research consortium which includes Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Spectrum Health, and Saint Mary’s Health Care along with affiliate members Ferris State University and Metro Health.