MSU President M. Peter McPherson and local community leaders have struck a balance on discussions for the future of MSU's College of Human Medicine, which could expand the medical school's presence in Grand Rapids.

The coalition announced Wednesday that it has reached agreements members said would benefit Mid-Michigan health care. As part of the agreement, the medical school would keep at least 50 of about 200 first- and second-year human medicine students on the East Lansing campus, while the rest of the students would move to the western part of the state.

This would not be a loss, McPherson said, but a gain for the area.

Besides keeping a small number of first- and second-year students, the university might expand the number of osteopathic medicine students and the number of third- and fourth-year residencies offered in the Lansing area. It also would maintain, if not increase, the 250 medical students in East Lansing, McPherson said.

The announcement comes exactly one month before the Board of Trustees makes its final decision. In January, officials from both MSU and Grand Rapids said they were having discussions about the school's possible expansion or relocation into that area.

Glenn Davis, dean of the College of Human Medicine, said the agreement would keep a strong medical presence in the area, despite the number of students who would be leaving.

"We think we could do a good job with this number," he said. "From my perspective, it's a viable set of suggestions."

Committee member and East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows said he was happy the coalition had a voice in the medical school discussions.

"I don't look at it as a compromise," Meadows said. "We have a commitment that this will be a minimum of 25 students, not a cap."

But State Sen. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, who was not present at the announcement, said he was not pleased with the number of students who would be staying in the area.

"Twenty-five is better than zero," he said. "I was hoping for more."

Concerns among committee members about the number of specialists the area would keep were addressed in the agreement.

The relationship between Lansing's Sparrow and Ingham County hospitals should only improve, said Dennis Litos, president and CEO of Ingham Regional Medical Center.

"Discussions and relationships may be better defined," he said. "To me, that is critical."

The university assessment report, which is being created by a committee headed by supply chain management Professor Don Bowersox, will be released soon, McPherson said. He assured the report would be consistent with the agreements between university and community leaders.

McPherson said he was convinced the agreements could create an environment that would make the medical school grow into Grand Rapids as well as increase its quality in East Lansing.

"The most persuasive point to me was the recruitment and retention would be enhanced in East Lansing," he said.

Davis said he believes a positive part of the possible move has been a higher level of appreciation between the university and the surrounding community.

"When there are perceived threats, it brings out community support and shows the university's importance to the community," he said.

Tina Reed can be reached at reedtina@msu.edu.