The MSU Board of Trustees spent Thursday getting acquainted with the medical facilities in a city which could, if approved, become home to part of the university's College of Human Medicine.

MSU began plans in early 2004 to move a portion of the medical school to Grand Rapids. MSU and Grand Rapids leaders signed an agreement in February to start pursuing a four-year medical school there, but a comprehensive plan is not expected until the fall.

During the board's annual retreat, trustees, President Lou Anna K. Simon and other MSU administrators toured the city. Stops included key health and research facilities that could be partnered with MSU's medical school if the plan is approved in October.

Trustee Colleen McNamara said the board toured several medical facilities in Grand Rapids, including the Van Andel Research Institute, Meijer Heart Center at Spectrum Health, Center for Health Sciences at Grand Valley State University and the Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary's Health Center.

"It was very impressive," she said. "They are all very committed to creating a high level of medical experiences and services in Grand Rapids."

Spectrum Health spokesman Bruce Rossman said there weren't any real negotiations or discussions about MSU's medical school, rather it was "more of a meet and greet" for MSU officials to learn about the city's hospitals.

Margaret Dimond, who is on the medical school's clinical practices task force, said MSU has had meetings with both the hospital and representatives from community-based medical groups.

"The two sides are looking at common areas where we can come together," the assistant Human Medicine dean said.

Steven Heacock, chief administrative and legal officer of IdeaSphere Inc., a David Van Andel-run private company that manufactures and supplies dietary supplements, said the board members were responsive to the tour.

"It went very well," he said. "Our goal was to show them the Grand Rapids community. Hopefully they walked away impressed and more knowledgeable about Grand Rapids' health centers."

Heacock said he will present a stakeholders group with an expansion plan in October and show the same plan to the MSU board by January.

The plans are for a three-year medical program that would eventually turn into the four-year school, he said.

Heacock said much of the planning for the possible medical school move has been spent clearing up misconceptions. He said there has been confusion about the nature of the two separate schools, their histories and the cost of the expansion.

"Those misunderstanding created a lot of barriers, but things are going very well, and we are cautiously optimistic," he said. "People are very sincerely interested in working hard to make it happen."

Task forces for the MSU medical school and West Michigan health officials have been meeting to discuss the education, clinical practices and finance of the project.

Amy Davis can be reached at davisam8@msu.edu.