BOSTON-- Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Harvard University announced today that they have signed a memorandum of understanding that would transition operations of Harvard Medical International (HMI) to Partners HealthCare. The new entity will be known as Partners Harvard Medical International (PHMI). Under this agreement, Partners HealthCare will assume responsibility for business operations and management of the nonprofit organization.
This move comes as the result of discussions between Partners and Harvard about the best positioning of Harvard Medical International for the future. Leaders from both organizations agree HMI’s portfolio has expanded from the more traditional arena of medical education to increasingly include assistance with health system improvement. Positioning HMI as part of a health care system with clinical service capabilities will enable HMI to better serve its client base and more directly address health care needs around the world.
Partners Harvard Medical International intends to retain the current HMI staff to ensure that ongoing projects, including major contracts in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, benefit from a continuity of management and the expanded capabilities of the new arrangement. HMI’s prominent role in the development of Dubai Healthcare City in the United Arab Emirates will remain unchanged. In addition, PHMI will continue to provide a broad array of opportunities for members of the HMS community to participate in international activities.
Since its inception in 1994, HMI has been a self-supporting, not-for-profit subsidiary of Harvard University. It has used its close links to the Medical School, its faculty, and its affiliated institutions to extend the Medical School's tradition of improving the quality of health care through excellence in clinical medicine, medical education, and biomedical research to a global community. Through numerous partnerships with health care delivery organizations, academic medical institutions, and other key stakeholders, HMI has played a major role in the development of health and education infrastructure abroad. HMI’s more than 50 programs have provided training and education for hundreds of physicians, nurses, health care leaders, and medical students from around the world. Collaborations based on clinical and administrative quality improvement have led to regional, national, and international recognition for HMI and its partner institutions.
“Partners is very pleased to have an opportunity to increase our involvement in the international health care arena by collaborating with a well-established organization that has an excellent reputation around the world,” said Jay B. Pieper, vice president of Partners HealthCare and president of Partners International Medical Services. “HMS’s reputation for medical education, HMI’s knowledge and experience in the global health care arena and Partners’ extensive clinical resources create a formidable synergy. This will permit PHMI to take the international contributions and engagements of our faculty and institutions to a higher level.”
“HMI’s work over the last 14 years has been possible in large part due to the unwavering support from the leadership of Harvard Medical School, as well as the tremendous intellectual resources of its faculty,” said Andrew A. Jeon, acting president and chief executive officer of HMI. “We anticipate that in our new affiliation with Partners, we will be able to expand our mission to increase access to quality health care in countries across the world, while maintaining a vital academic partnership with the Medical School and its affiliated institutions.”
It is expected that as Partners Harvard Medical International, the organization will build on its diverse portfolio of international service. Its programs and partnerships will continue to draw upon the experience and expertise of faculty and staff across Harvard University, at all of the HMS-affiliated teaching hospitals and institutes, and on the Quad at the Medical School.
“In addition to facilitating innovative approaches to medical education and clinical care, HMI has been instrumental in creating opportunities for Harvard faculty to teach around the world and contribute knowledge and resources to the development of health care and education systems,” said Harvard Provost Steven Hyman. “We are confident that Partners will use its business and administrative knowledge to allow Partners Harvard Medical International to become an even more significant force in improving global health care.”
© 2008 The President and Fellows of Harvard College