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New era of medical education begins with Secchia Center kickoff

Photo by John Corriveau Participating in a ceremony to kick off construction of the Secchia Center on April 21 in Grand Rapids are (from left) John Canepa, co-chairperson, Grand Action; Marsha Rappley, dean, College of Human Medicine; Peter Secchia, chairman emeritus, Universal Forest Products Inc.; Lou Ann K. Simon, president; Joan Secchia; Donald Maine, chancellor emeritus, Davenport College; Melanie Foster, MSU Board of Trustees; Richard Breon, president and CEO, Spectrum Health.

By Tom Oswald

A new era of medical education began April 21 as construction of the Secchia Center, which will serve as the west Michigan home of the MSU College of Human Medicine, got under way in downtown Grand Rapids.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said the facility will be a “signature” building for Grand Rapids and the west Michigan community.

“From the outside, the design fits the plans and visions of the region,” said Simon. “But it will also be signature in terms of what is inside too, with state-of-the-art instructional technologies and a community, health and education partnership that is truly unique to medical education.”

The facility is named in honor of Ambassador Peter Secchia, an MSU alumnus, long-time supporter of the university and former U.S. ambassador to Italy (1989 to 1993) who provided the lead gift for the medical education building.