By Rebecca Wyatt Thomas, OU Web Writer

During a scholarship breakfast hosted by the School of Education and Human Services, the Humana Foundation announced its intentions to donate $100,000 in support of Oakland University’s development of a medical school. OU and Beaumont Hospitals have partnered to develop the medical school, which will open its doors to students in 2010. Dur the breakfast, at which Humana’s President and Chief Executive Officer Mike McCallister spoke, Humana also donated $5,000 for scholarships for Human Resource Development students.

“We are pleased with the enthusiastic response from the community since we announced plans to create a medical school in partnership with Beaumont Hospital,” said Ted Montgomery, director of media relations for Oakland University. “We appreciate Humana making this commitment and supporting our vision to bring a high-quality medical education to Oakland County.”

Humana provides health benefits to 175,000 Michiganders and 11 million people throughout the United States.

David Sokol, who serves on the Resource Development Board for the School of Education and Human Services and is the vice president of sales for Humana, and Denise Christy, president of Humana’s commercial operations in Michigan, organized the opportunity to bring McCallister to campus.

Besides announcing Humana’s gift, McCallister also held a roundtable and met with students in a forum setting. During the breakfast, McCallister delivered information on creating efficiencies in area health care systems.