Toledo is composed of many magnificent neighborhoods and assets: the Maumee River; our Downtown Waterfront; the Central Business District and Warehouse District; the Toledo Museum of Art and the Old West End; Metroparks Toledo; Franklin Park; Old Orchard, and the University of Toledo; the Toledo Zoo, and the University of Toledo Medical Center.
I believe it fair to say that most Toledoans would not include MCO-UTMC on their list of valuable Toledo assets, yet it it certainly does belong there. For example, the South Toledo medical campus compares in worth to the University of Toledo’s main campus on West Bancroft Street. The main campus includes the Glass Bowl Savage Arena, all the academic buildings, the library and recreation center, fraternities, sororities, and dorms — all of these properties are equal in real value to the South Toledo medical campus.
Just 41 years ago, the Medical College of Ohio Hospital was officially dedicated. As Jim Winkler recently wrote in this very column: “At its dedication in 1979, then MCO President Richard Ruppert called the teaching hospital a ‘258-bed classroom.’” Mr. Winkler concluded, “It is a treasure for the region, the state, and its citizens.”
In 2020, former President Sharon Gaber and former UT Board Chairman Mary Ellen Pisanelli decided to sell or seek new management of the hospital.
But, citizens of South Toledo and throughout our region recognized the medical campus as critical infrastructure, and understood the tremendous benefits its teaching, healing, and research imparts upon the entire Toledo region. They rose up and worked together to persuade Interim President Gregory Postel and the Board of Trustees to take the for-sale sign down.
We came together as Save UTMC — neighbors, elected officials, caring UTMC staff, and AFSCME union members. And we published a 13-point agenda to breathe fresh energy, talent, and fiscal resources into our medical campus, so valuable not only to our region, but to the entire state of Ohio.
This critical resource, including the medical school, research labs, and healing hospital, is one of only two such state-owned campuses in Ohio, the other being on the Ohio State University campus.
Very special recognition goes to U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, state Sen. Teresa Fedor, Dr. James Willey of UTMC, Mike D’Eramo, CEO of the Toledo Clinic, and Randy Desposito, president of ASFCME Local #2415. Their leadership throughout our journey was invaluable. Gracious thanks go to Keith Burris, editor and vice president of The Blade and editorial director of Block Newspapers, and The Blade staff, who informed and educated northwest Ohio residents on the value of our South Toledo medical campus and challenged the UT Board of Trustees and officials to recognize the value. Finally, to Dr. Postel, interim president: we are especially grateful to you for leading the way to a brighter future for our University and our medical campus.
Now, let’s move forward together inspiring, teaching, researching, and healing, at our valuable medical campus in South Toledo, truly one of the most precious assets in Toledo and northwest Ohio.
First Published August 1, 2020, 4:00 a.m.
