Educational institutions are also economic engines for our communities. The documentary Waiting for Superman, changed paradigms by suggesting bad schools produce bad neighborhoods, not vice versa. Arizona does not have a large concentration of diverse, educational institutions like many eastern states, but that should be a goal of future development.
Midwestern University College (MWU) is located in Glendale, Arizona. The over $265 million campus—with colleges in Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Dental Medicine, and Optometry, and 13 degree programs—is Arizona’s largest medical school. . The educational and intellectual value of such higher education institutions is obvious, though those values do not seem to get much recognition in Arizona. But Phoenicians should also note the economic benefits such schools provide.
The College, alone, has created over 550 campus-based jobs. The Scientist magazine identified it as one of the top ten places to work in academia. The multiplier effect occurs when one thinks of all of the external businesspeople, who serve the college and its 3300+ students, faculty and staff. Midwestern students and faculty are also estimated to have contributed over $1.4 million worth of community service.
But one of the most positive benefits of MWU for Phoenix businesses and communities is The Midwestern Dental Institute. This 100,000 sq ft facility should be a source of pride for all of Arizona. Russell Cyphers, DDS, FAGD, left his private dental practice to become one of the inaugural Assistant Professors and Clinical Care Coordinators when the Institute opened in 2010. “I had always enjoyed working with students on a part-time basis. Sale of my private practice allowed me to enjoy doing this on a full-time basis.”
Over 200 students work in pairs with the College of Dental Medicine Arizona faculty to provide comprehensive dental care and treatment to people from throughout the Valley. Plus, the facility, equipment, medical records and payment stations are state-of-the-art. Thus the College attracts young, bright, enthusiastic people from all over the country, like one of Cyphers’ students--Joseph Boysen—who moved here from Madison, Wisconsin, just to attend this college. The hope for Arizona is that MWU can maintain/improve its track record of over 45% of its healthcare graduates staying in Arizona.
Economic success stories, like the Midwestern University Dental Institute, should encourage officials to campaign as hard for new private educational institutions as they do for new call centers.
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