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CUMMINGS UP FOR THE SCS CHALLENGE
March 23, 2000
When you talk with Mark Cummings, the words "challenge," "good fit" and "commitment" tend to surface a lot in the conversation.And in a lot of ways, those words sum up his reasons for joining the College of Osteopathic Medicine team as the newly appointed Associate Dean for the Statewide Campus System."I consider this an outstanding educational challenge for me personally and a good fit based on my professional background and interest in postdoctoral education," Cummings said.In his new role, Cummings will do just what the title says – oversee the college’s educational endeavors throughout the state."One of my major tasks is to improve the effectiveness of the Michigan Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution (OPTI) and the quality of its educational programs," he said.OPTI is the American Osteopathic Association’s graduate medical education initiative. The AOA mandates that all of its approved internships and residencies must be located within an OPTI, which is composed of a college of osteopathic medicine and health care facilities sponsoring AOA-accredited postdoctoral programs.Cummings said one of his many reasons for coming to MSUCOM is the reputation that COM’s Statewide Campus System’s OPTI enjoys."SCS OPTI is already the leader in postdoctoral education within the osteopathic profession and several benefits are already evident for students, interns, residents and member institutions," he said.Among his goals:
- "To assist in the process of creating a seamless transition between pre- andpostdoctoral education at MSUCOM."
- "To increase SCS commitment to faculty development in community hospitals."
- And, "to facilitate the development of activities that provide shared benefits through cooperation and mutual assistance."
Cummings said another reason for coming to East Lansing was the opportunity to work for the recognized leader in the field."MSUCOM has the largest and most advanced system of educational cooperation in the osteopathic profession," he said, "and I’m very happy to be here."Prior to his arrival in East Lansing, Cummings served as associate vice president for administration at Midwestern University in Chicago. Prior to that he held posts at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, the American Osteopathic Association, and Brandeis University.Cummings earned a BA from Quincy College (Illinois) and an MA and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
By: Tom Oswald