Daniel J. Elsener, President of Marian University, announced last Tuesday that Marian University will create Crossroads Academic Medical Institute, a groundbreaking initiative anchored by Marian University’s Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCOM) and allied health programs, in partnership with Purdue University and leading healthcare systems across Indiana.

A new statewide collaboration has been established to help expand and strengthen Indiana’s healthcare workforce, expand clinical training opportunities, improve access to care statewide, attract talent, and drive innovation in Indiana and beyond.

Marian University made the announcement last Tuesday that its Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine, in collaboration with academic partners Purdue University and The Catholic University of America, and healthcare systems across Indiana, including Community Health Network, Ascension St. Vincent, Parkview Health, Margaret Mary Health, Hancock Health, Daviess Community Hospital, Deaconess Health System, and the Indiana Rural Health Association, have launched the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute.

“This institute and the collaborative power of higher education working with private industry, government, outstanding clinical professionals, and healthcare providers will advance promising research and exploration of new approaches to ensuring compassionate, quality, and affordable care for all Hoosiers and beyond,” Daniel J. Elsener, President of Marian University, said. 

This first-of-its-kind distributed academic medical center coordinates medical education, research, and clinical training. Instead of operating from a single hospital campus, the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute connects universities, health systems, and clinical training sites to form a coordinated statewide network in Indiana, focused on education, research, and patient care.

“Crossroads Academic Medical Institute will bring a collaborative approach to increase workforce, enhance the quality, and lower the cost of healthcare in Indiana,” Mung Chiang, President of Purdue University, said. “Partnering with Marian University's medical school and many hospital systems is the latest reflection of Purdue's focus on Indianapolis and on One Health.”

Through Crossroads Academic Medical Institute, Marian University’s Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine will serve as the academic anchor for medical education, working alongside Purdue University’s research enterprise and healthcare partners throughout Indiana to: 

• Expand clinical training opportunities across urban and rural communities
• Develop new residency programs in underserved areas
• Strengthen pathways from education to practice for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals
• Advance translational research through shared infrastructure and collaboration

The Crossroads Academic Medical Institute leaders say the initiative will continue to expand in the months ahead, with additional partners, training sites, and research collaborations expected to strengthen Indiana and expand access to care statewide.