IPA Charities Made a Charter Member of FIU College of Medicine

Contact:
Jennifer Cumbee
IPA
847-808-5590
Jennifer.Cumbee@ipa-c.com

Buffalo Grove, Ill. (May 23, 2007) - IPA Charities, the charitable foundation of IPA, has recently been named a Charter Member of the College of Medicine Founders at Florida International University (FIU).

In support of the creation of a College of Medicine at the University, IPA Charities donated $50,000. The College of Medicine was approved in 2006 by the Florida Board of Governors and the Florida Legislature.

"Your contribution to the College of Medicine is highly valued and signals a shared commitment to the positive difference that this public medical school will make in the field of health care for the South Florida community," said Modesto A. Maidique, president of FIU.

Officials hope to start classes in 2009, pending preliminary accreditation by the LCME. The College’s mission is to provide high-quality and affordable medical education and to train culturally sensitive physicians. The need for the College of Medicine was created amid pressing community health concerns and a projected critical shortage of physicians nationally. They are currently developing a curriculum that reflects an innovative, 21st century approach to health care and medical education.

Florida International University is Miami-Dade County’s first public, four-year university. Today it has more than 38,000 students, almost 1,000 full-time faculty and more than 117,500 alumni, making it the largest university in South Florida. The University offers more than 200 bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in 22 colleges and schools. FIU recently ranked among the best values in public higher education in the country, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s 2006 survey, "100 Best Values in Public Colleges." FIU ranked among the top 50 nationally for in-state students and among the top 100 nationally for out-of- state and international students. U.S. News & World Report ranks FIU’s undergraduate international business programs 7th in the nation and their graduate programs among the top 20. The university has also been named one of the "10 Cool Colleges for Entrepreneurs" by Fortune Small Business magazine. Our Executive MBA program was recently ranked #1 in Florida by the Financial Times.

IPA Charities is a 501(c)3 charitable foundation dedicated to the quest of improving communities and people’s lives around the world. IPA, the largest privately held management consulting and professional services firm for small and medium size businesses in North America, is a leading authority on small business. With annual revenues in excess of $200 million since 2005, IPA is the 6th largest management consulting company in Chicago and the 61st largest consulting company in the world. IPA offers a wide range of proven and innovative methodologies to help businesses grow and prosper. Additional information is immediately available by visiting http://www.ipa-c.com. The Public Relations Department may be contacted at: telephone (847) 495-6786; facsimile (847) 495-6773.

Source: IPA Charites.