Secchia Center 15th Anniversary
When Michigan State University opened the Secchia Center in 2010, Grand Rapids opened the door to a community of learners. The eight-story, 180,000 square foot building brings together anatomy, basic science and clinical teaching into one facility, and created a community space for graduate medical education, community partners, and experiential learning.
A Community Vision
More than two decades ago, community leaders and organizations came together to ask the question, “What does our city need to become a destination for health care?” A study commissioned by The Right Place and Grand Action identified a medical school as the key to the development of a thriving life sciences center.
The Grand Rapids community rallied around this vision. With the help of MSU’s health partners and the community’s investment, plans for the College of Human Medicine’s new medical facility took shape on the Medical Mile.
MSU alumnus and former Ambassador to Italy, Peter F. Secchia provided the lead gift for the medical education building with his wife, Joan Secchia. It inspired many others including Rich and Helen DeVos, Grand Action, and numerous philanthropic leaders to join. Investment from Corewell Health, Van Andel Institute and Trinity Health Saint Mary’s was pivotal in bringing the medical school to Grand Rapids.
The $90M medical education building opened September 10, 2010. The Secchia Center is the College of Human Medicine’s headquarters, with seven additional community campuses across the state.
Celebrating 15 years of Medical Milestones in Grand Rapids
The Secchia Center was just the start of the Michigan State University’s vision to create a health innovation hub in West Michigan. Over the past fifteen years, the College of Human Medicine has served as a pillar of community health and a catalyst for biomedical discoveries.
- 360 students train in Grand Rapids each year
- 827 total Spartan MDs in West Michigan
- 200+ research faculty and staff at the Grand Rapids Innovation Park
- More than $179M in federal and external funding over the past 15 years
- Advances in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, women’s health, cancer and other health conditions.
- FDA-approved lifesaving drug for pediatric cancer
- $300M economic impact of MSU in Grand Rapids annually
Partners in Health
- Corewell Health
- Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
- Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
- Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
- Trinity Health Grand Rapids
Clinical Partners
- Catherine's Health
- Cherry Health
- Exalta Health
- Aquinas College
- Calvin University
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Grand Valley State University
- Hope College
- Van Andel Institute
- MSU Research Foundation – The Bridge
- City of Grand Rapids
- Grand Action 2.0
- Grand Rapids Chamber
- The Right Place