U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, hopes to hold a forum with community members and MSU President M. Peter McPherson to discuss the MSU College of Human Medicine's possible expansion into Grand Rapids.
Rogers spoke with McPherson briefly Tuesday and Sylvia Warner, Rogers' spokeswoman, said Rogers was pleased with McPherson's initiative.
"It sounded like there were no definite conclusions yet and that President McPherson was weighing all possibilities and the impacts those might have on the community," Warner said. "From Rogers' perspective, there was no definitive answer yet. So this is a good time to meet."
In mid-January, officials from both MSU and Grand Rapids said they were having ongoing discussions about the school's possible expansion or relocation into the area, but no decision has been made.
University officials said the talks are in beginning stages.
"(Rogers) has asked for clarification and a meeting between McPherson and community officials," Warner said.
Warner said Rogers hasn't made any decision for or against the possible expansion, and he won't until he receives all of the information and the university answers all of his questions.
"At this point, he is concerned about the impact that such a move might have on the community," Warner said. "He is very concerned and would be opposed to anything that would damage the health-care network in the region."
McPherson said there just aren't answers for Rogers' questions right now.
"But I don't expect this to drag out over a year, either," McPherson said, adding that as conversations become more concrete, more news will spread to the university and surrounding communities, but "it'll be in pieces."
McPherson announced at Tuesday's Faculty Council meeting that he and Provost Lou Anna Simon spoke with supply-chain management Professor Don Bowersox about consulting on the project.
Bowersox declined to comment on Tuesday.
McPherson said more finalized talks will surface this week.
"It's important financially, it's important academically, and it's important to the two communities," he said. "What we're looking for is win-win."
