New statewide initiative aims to expand healthcare training, research, and access to care across Indiana.

A new statewide collaboration announced today will 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, Purdue University, and The Catholic University of America, in collaboration with healthcare systems and academic partners 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 (CAMI). In addition to its Indiana partnerships, The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., will help develop a complementary national model for Catholic academic medicine. 

This first-of-its-kind distributed academic medical center coordinates medical education, research, and clinical training through a statewide network across Indiana. 

Indiana Governor Mike Braun joined university and healthcare leaders in Indianapolis on Tuesday to announce the initiative and its long-term vision to strengthen healthcare access and workforce development statewide. 

Instead of operating from a single hospital campus, CAMI connects universities, health systems, and clinical training sites across Indiana to form a coordinated statewide network focused on education, research, and patient care. 

“By bringing leading universities and healthcare providers together in the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute, we have created an effective, efficient, and innovative approach to the growing need for outstanding physicians and healthcare professionals of all types across all regions of this great state,” said Daniel J. Elsener, President of Marian University. “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.” 

Through CAMI, 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 

"CAMI will bring a collaborative approach to increase workforce, enhance the quality, and lower the cost of healthcare in Indiana," said Purdue president Mung Chiang. "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.” “Indiana is building the healthcare workforce of the future, and CAMI positions our state as the place to be for medical education, research, innovation, and patient care,” Gov. Braun said. “By bringing together our universities, healthcare providers, and industry partners, we are creating new opportunities for Hoosiers, strengthening communities across Indiana, and ensuring our state leads the nation in developing the next generation of healthcare professionals.” 

“Indiana’s ability to meet future healthcare needs depends on strong collaboration among higher education, healthcare providers, and community partners,” said Rodric Bray, President Pro Tempore of the Indiana Senate. “CAMI represents an innovative statewide approach that strengthens workforce development, expands medical training opportunities, and helps position Indiana for long-term success in healthcare and research.” 

“Preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals is critical to Indiana’s economic future and the well-being of our communities,” said Todd Huston, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives. “By uniting universities, healthcare systems, and research partners statewide, CAMI creates new pathways for students and helps address workforce needs across Indiana.” 

Healthcare leaders say the model directly addresses growing workforce and access challenges affecting communities throughout Indiana, particularly in rural and underserved areas where shortages in primary care, behavioral health, and specialty services continue to impact patient access. 

“Our rural areas and hospitals play an integral part in the vision of this initiative: to expand clinical training opportunities and improve access to care statewide,” said Justin D. Harris, CEO of Daviess Community Hospital. “The development of Crossroads Academic Medical Institute (CAMI) is an important step to help us continue not only our vision of growth and sustainability at Daviess Community, but for all rural hospitals and areas in the State of Indiana, through clinical training opportunities in rural areas and new residency programs in underserved areas. This statewide initiative ensures that rural communities are integral in the collaborative approach to developing a Statewide Platform for Healthcare Education, Research, and Clinical Access.”  

“Indiana needs more physicians and healthcare professionals, and CAMI is designed to meet that challenge head-on,” said Dr. Amanda Wright, Dean of Marian University’s Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine. “By connecting clinical training sites across the state, we are creating a sustainable, scalable model that supports learners while improving access to high-quality care for all Indiana residents. Just as importantly, CAMI strengthens the meaningful relationships between our learners and the communities they serve, ensuring that future healthcare providers are not only clinically excellent but deeply connected to the people and places that rely on them. This is an investment not only in education, but in the long-term health of our state.” 

Through its partnership with the Catholic University of America, CAMI also aims to help establish a national model for Catholic academic medicine that focuses on research, physician formation, and community health. 

“The Catholic University of America is proud to partner in an initiative that reflects the longstanding Catholic commitment to the infinite dignity of each person, compassionate care, and the advancement of knowledge in service to society,” said Peter Kilpatrick, the university’s president. “CAMI has the potential to become a national model for Catholic academic medicine by integrating education, research, and healthcare delivery to strengthen both communities and the healthcare profession.” 

Through its collaborative research model, CAMI is expected to position Indiana to compete for significant new external investment and research opportunities. University leaders anticipate that the initiative could attract hundreds of millions of dollars in future research funding, accelerating healthcare innovation, supporting discoveries and patents, and spurring new business growth across the state. 

CAMI leaders say the initiative will continue to expand in the months ahead, with additional partners, training sites, and research collaborations expected to strengthen Indiana’s healthcare workforce further and expand access to care statewide. 

About Marian University 
Founded in 1851, Marian University is a Catholic Franciscan university with campuses in Indianapolis and Plymouth, Indiana. As the only Catholic university in Indianapolis and central Indiana, Marian serves more than 5,100 students, including approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students. The university offers a wide range of degree programs across the arts, business, education, engineering, mathematics, medicine, nursing, ministry, and the natural and physical sciences. In 2013, Marian University established its College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first new medical school in Indiana in more than 100 years. Continuing its commitment to meeting regional workforce needs, the university opened the E.S Witchger School of Engineering in 2023 to help address the Midwest’s growing demand for STEM professionals. 
 
About Daviess Community Hospital 
Daviess Community Hospital (DCH) stands as a beacon of health and wellness in southwestern Indiana. Serving the region with one 48-bed hospital, and a multitude of specialty and primary care clinics, DCH is dedicated to providing top-tier medical care. Nestled in Washington, Indiana, this not-for-profit health system is one of the area’s largest private employers, boasting a team of over 350 passionate professionals. DCH is unwavering in its mission to improving the health of the people of the communities it serves not only by delivering excellent medical care, but also ensuring accessibility, promoting healthy living, and collaborating with local agencies to address community health needs. DCH is committed to being the healthcare provider of choice, continuously striving for excellence and innovation. Discover more about DCH’s services and commitment to health at dchosp.org.