Lake County Medical Society Donates $100,000 to IU School of Medicine-Northwest

Generous gift will help Northwest Indiana’s medical school to renovate, expand

LCMS-IUSM-NWThanks to the generosity of the Lake County Medical Society, the Indiana University School of Medicine-Northwest (IUSM-NW) is one step closer to its goal of fully renovating and expanding its teaching laboratories, including advanced teaching technologies and state-of-the-art patient simulation equipment.

The $100,000 donation, recently presented to IUSM-NW, will allow the medical school to further meet the educational needs of its expanded student body, now that the school offers four years of medical education, but also the healthcare needs of the region.

“Healthcare remains the most vital and stable sector of Northwest Indiana’s economy,” Bankston said. “And the educational experience provided at IU School of Medicine - Northwest is second to none. The future of patient care in our region is dependent upon our ability to attract and educate enough of tomorrow’s physicians and healthcare providers today.

“Statistics show that a majority doctors tend to stay in the area where they are educated and trained. In a broad sense, our generous donors are helping to improve the health and vitality of the region.”

Dr. Steve Simpson, president of the Lake County Medical Society, said the donation is an opportunity for the society’s 400-plus member physicians to provide input and direction for the IU School of Medicine – Northwest.

1972: IUSM-NW, located in East Chicago, begins classes with 4 students and 5 faculty members.

1975: Dr. Panayotis Iatridis is appointed Director. The medical school relocates to the present campus, and is housed in trailers.

1978: Gary East & Gary West remodel to house the medical school.

1980: A second year of medical education is added.

1985: IUSM-NW begins offering clinical services.

1990: Regional Center Alternative curriculum is offered.

1998: William Baldwin is appointed Director.

2004: IUSM-NW relocates to Dunes Medical/Professional building.

2005: Patrick Bankston, Ph.D., is appointed Director.

2009: A third year of medical education is added.

2012: IUSM-NW has a full program of third- and fourth-year medical students.

2012: Medical school admission interviews are held at IUSM-NW as an alternative location to Indianapolis.

2012: $1 million renovation of IUSM-NW is complete. Phase two of the renovation begins.

2014: Lake County Medical Society donates $100,000 for continued expansion.

Simpson said that in recent years, the society had been assisting the medical school by providing small scholarships to students, but this donation enables the group to make a larger impact.

“It is something that the society is doing to help the community,” Simpson said. “That is what it is all about -- physicians helping the community.”

Responding to regional health care needs

For more than 40 years, Indiana University School of Medicine-Northwest, the only medical school in Northwest Indiana, has been preparing the region’s physicians. More than 650 physicians have been educated through IUSM-NW since the medical school’s inception in 1972.

In response to the national doctor shortage – brought forth by the aging American population and the Affordable Care Act - IU School of Medicine embarked on a state-wide expansion project to increase the number of student doctors across all IU medical school campuses.

Meeting the needs of the growing student body, in October 2012, IUSM-NW completed a $1 million renovation and expansion of the classroom facilities, including a flexible learning environment complete with renovated classrooms and technology, the expansion of small group learning rooms, and additional study rooms.

Additional funds are needed to help further expand the region’s only medical school.

If you would like to contribute, please contact Dawn Yerger, Associate Director of Development, IU School of Medicine & CHHS at (219) 981-4241.