1. Agreement between Central Michigan University and an (NRI) Non-Resident Indian Academy of Sciences Medical College in Andhra Pradesh, India is expected to revolutionize two medical professions in India.
2. Two CMU graduate programs - the Master of Science in Physician Assistant and the Doctor of Audiology - will participate in the agreement

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April 03, 2006
CMU, INDIAN ACADEMY SIGN AGREEMENT TO EXPAND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, AUDIOLOGY PROFESSIONS IN INDIA

A new agreement between Central Michigan University and an Indian academy is expected to revolutionize two medical professions in India.

The agreement creates a partnership between CMU's The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions and the Non-Resident Indian Academy of Sciences Medical College in Andhra Pradesh, India. Two CMU graduate programs - the Master of Science in Physician Assistant and the Doctor of Audiology - will participate in the agreement.

"The impact of this agreement will be significant," said Dean Marvis Lary of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions. "India does not have a physician assistant field and the country's audiology professionals are primarily technicians, so our agreements with NRIAS in these areas will provide new health care opportunities for Indian citizens by preparing highly trained medical professionals to serve them.

"In addition, CMU students will have the opportunity to study in India and experience health care in a highly populated country that has a completely different type of health care system," she said.

Lary, CMU President Michael Rao, CMU Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas Storch, NRIAS Secretary Dr. Narasa Raju Mantena, and NRIAS Joint Secretary Dr. AppaRao Mukkamala signed the agreement on April 1.

Under the physician assistant program's portion of the agreement, NRIAS will develop a physician assistant curriculum equivalent to CMU's program, and NRIAS students will complete 60 hours of coursework at the academy before transferring to CMU. Up to 10 students will be accepted into the program each year, beginning in fall 2006. The first cohort of students will begin their CMU studies in summer 2007.

The students will complete 12 hours of summer coursework at CMU and, like all CMU physician assistant students, will complete a standardized clinical preparation examination before entering a yearlong clinical experience during which they will perform eight rotations in a variety of medical settings.

Upon successful completion of their clinical experiences, the students will earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant from CMU. In total, the students will spend approximately 15 months at CMU.

In addition, CMU physician assistant students will have opportunities to get clinical experience in India at Non-Resident Indian General Hospital, a 750-bed facility affiliated with NRIAS. Faculty exchanges also are a component of the agreement.

Under the audiology portion of the agreement, up to two NRIAS students will be accepted into CMU's audiology program. Once accepted, the students must complete four years of coursework and clinical experiences to earn a Doctor of Audiology degree from CMU. It is anticipated that the students will begin attending CMU in fall 2007.

The agreement, which is effective until 2011, also stipulates that prospective students must meet all requirements for admission to CMU.

Located between Guntur and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India, the Non-Resident Indian Academy of Sciences Medical College is affiliated with and accredited by N.T. Rama Rao Health University. The academy was dedicated in February 2005 and operates in conjunction with Non-Resident Indian General Hospital

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