Discussions between officials from Grand Rapids and MSU to iron out details regarding the move of MSU's College of Human Medicine have been delayed following a death.
David Van Andel, president and CEO of the Van Andel Institute, was going to facilitate the first meeting between university and Grand Rapids officials today. But on Tuesday, Jay Van Andel, David's father and founder of the institute, died of heart failure.
Van Andel and Amway co-founder Richard DeVos started selling diet supplements in the 1950s and coined the name Amway, an abbreviation of "American Way," in 1959, when they expanded into household cleaning products.
He and DeVos also became generous philanthropists, with their families giving a combined $95 million between 1990 and 1998 alone.
MSU President M. Peter McPherson said Tuesday's meeting was postponed.
In November, members of Grand Rapids-based Grand Action presented a report about the potential move of the college. The group recommended meetings begin between Spectrum Health, St. Mary's Hospital and other key players in Grand Rapids. David Van Andel was recommended to lead the meetings.
McPherson said both groups met separately beforehand.
"We understood they were going to talk a little bit in Grand Rapids among themselves, and the plan was that we were then going to meet as a group," McPherson said. "But now that meeting won't happen (today)."
Talks between Grand Rapids groups have been ongoing since October, said Spectrum spokesman Bruce Rossman. The discussions have been coordinated by Van Andel and have happened sporadically with no set schedule, Rossman said.
Van Andel spokesman Patrick Kelly could not be reached for comment.
Rossman said the groups are just starting their discussions and have yet to come to any definite plans.
"It's a little premature to discuss implications of this move, seeing as how discussions have just gone under way," Rossman said.
As key players in Grand Rapids meet to discuss the relocation, university officials are gearing up for the impending move on their own.
At Friday's MSU Board of Trustees meeting, McPherson will address the board regarding the move. Although he would not go into detail about what will be discussed, he said he and board members will talk together about the move's progress.
And at Tuesday's Academic Council meeting, Norman Abeles, chairman of the College of Human Medicine Oversight Committee, presented a letter which outlined the committee's suggestions for the move.
The suggestions included making the move in phases, developing a research program guided by MSU and the Grand Rapids groups and developing a human medicine clinical practice model. It also suggested having first-and second-year students arrive in Grand Rapids when research is underway.
Radiology professor James Potchen said he appreciated the work from the oversight committee.
"I support the recommendations," Potchen said. "I think it's a reasonable recommendation that we proceed with caution."
