The Michael A. Evans Center For Health Sciences: A $29 Million Gift Reshapes Indiana's Medical Future
The Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences at Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana, stands as a critical pillar for healthcare education in the Midwest, but as of late 2025, it is at the center of a major, transformative announcement. This state-of-the-art facility, which houses the university’s premier health professions programs, recently became the recipient of a historic financial gift that is set to reshape its medical school and dramatically boost the number of primary care physicians serving the state.
Opened in 2013, the Evans Center brought Indiana its first new medical school in over a century, a monumental achievement dedicated to addressing the critical physician deficit in the region. The latest development, a monumental $29 million donation, is not only the largest individual gift in Marian University’s history but also a testament to the center's unwavering commitment to training the next generation of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and highly skilled nurses.
Michael A. Evans: The Visionary Behind the Center
The Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences is named in honor of a man whose philanthropic vision and dedication to the Indianapolis community made the entire project possible. Michael A. Evans was a prominent Indianapolis businessman and a significant figure in the healthcare industry.
Biography Profile: Michael A. Evans (Center's Namesake)
- Full Name: Michael A. Evans
- Primary Role: Philanthropist and Business Executive.
- Major Affiliation: Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of AIT Laboratories (Applied Integrated Technologies), a major Indianapolis-based drug testing and laboratory services company.
- Key Contribution: Evans provided a monumental $48 million donation to Marian University to help fund the construction of the new College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Legacy: In 2010, Marian University honored him by naming the new health sciences facility the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences.
- Impact: His foundational gift was instrumental in establishing the first new medical school in Indiana in 110 years, directly addressing a critical shortage of physicians in the state.
Evans's initial $48 million gift was the foundational capital that allowed Marian University to break ground on the massive 140,000-square-foot facility. His commitment was to a Catholic-affiliated medical school dedicated to serving the underserved, a mission that continues to drive the center's programs today. The center, often affectionately referred to as the "EC" by students and faculty, is a direct result of his generosity and foresight.
The $29 Million Gift and the Future of MU-COM
In a landmark announcement, Marian University's College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-COM)—a primary resident of the Evans Center—received a staggering $29 million donation from Julie Wood, on behalf of the Tom & Julie Wood Family Foundation. This massive gift, which is the largest single donation in the university's history, marks a new chapter for the medical school.
Transformative Impact of the Wood Family Donation
The $29 million gift is earmarked for several critical initiatives that will dramatically enhance the medical school's capacity and mission:
- Medical School Renaming: In recognition of the historic generosity, the College of Osteopathic Medicine will be renamed the Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Scholarship Endowment: A significant portion of the funds is dedicated to establishing endowed scholarships specifically for students committed to becoming primary care physicians and practicing in the state of Indiana. This directly targets the state's most pressing healthcare need.
- Facility Enhancements: The funding will also support facility enhancements within the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences, ensuring the building remains a cutting-edge environment for medical and nursing education.
This financial injection underscores the vital role the Evans Center plays in the regional healthcare ecosystem. By focusing on primary care, the university is doubling down on its commitment to produce doctors who will serve in rural and underserved urban communities, fulfilling the original vision of both Michael A. Evans and the new benefactors.
A Hub of Modern Health Education: Key Facilities and Programs
The Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences is more than just a building; it is a collaborative educational ecosystem designed to foster interprofessional practice between future doctors and nurses. The center’s design and technology are built to mirror real-world hospital and clinic environments, preparing students for immediate clinical success.
Programs Housed in the Evans Center
The center is the home base for two of Marian University’s most critical health professions programs:
- Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-COM): Offering the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, this program emphasizes a holistic, patient-centered approach to medicine.
- Alan and Sue Leighton School of Nursing: Providing comprehensive nursing education, the school is vital for producing the registered nurses and advanced practice nurses needed in Indiana's hospitals and clinics.
State-of-the-Art Learning Environments
To establish true topical authority in health sciences education, the Evans Center is equipped with specialized, modern facilities that are essential for hands-on medical training. These advanced labs and centers ensure students gain practical experience before entering clinical rotations.
- Browning Anatomy Lab: This state-of-the-art facility is crucial for foundational medical training, utilizing preserved and well-maintained donors for in-depth anatomical study, with an impressive student-to-donor ratio.
- Hill-Rom Simulation Center: A high-tech environment that uses advanced medical simulators and actors to recreate real-life patient scenarios, allowing medical and nursing students to practice critical thinking, teamwork, and emergency response skills in a safe setting.
- Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Labs: Dedicated spaces for D.O. students to master the hands-on diagnostic and treatment techniques that are a cornerstone of osteopathic medicine.
- Dedicated Research Labs: The center includes specialized research laboratories where faculty and students collaborate on biomedical sciences, contributing to new knowledge in areas like lipid droplets and host defense mechanisms.
The interprofessional education model is a hallmark of the Evans Center. Medical and nursing students share learning spaces and participate in joint simulations, fostering the collaborative spirit necessary for modern healthcare delivery. This unique approach, combined with the recent $29 million investment, solidifies the center's role as a powerhouse for health professions training in the Midwest.
The legacy of Michael A. Evans, the visionary donor who made the center a reality, continues to grow with every graduate who enters the healthcare workforce. The new Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine, housed within the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences, is poised to dramatically increase its impact, ensuring a healthier future for the residents of Indianapolis, Indiana, and beyond through its commitment to primary care and cutting-edge education. This synergy of philanthropy and mission is what keeps the Evans Center at the forefront of health sciences.
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