Wash U. School of Medicine takes over three CID programs

From: St. Louis Business Journal- Sept 19, 2003

Washington University School of Medicine has assumed ownership of Central Institute of the Deaf's research, adult clinical care and advanced degree programs.

Terms of the deal include and exchange and leaseback of real estate valued at $32 million. CID will sell the majority of its real estate assets to Wash U. at fair market value, and Wash U. will assume CID's bond debt. The CID residence hall will be transferred to the university at the end of the 2003-2004 school year.

The transferred programs, known as CID at Washington University School of Medicine, are now part of the university's department of otolaryngology, which becomes the largest otolaryngology research program in the country with the addition of CID's eight scientists, the university said.

"This new level of partnership with CID reaffirms Washington University's commitment to biomedical research in hearing, clinical care for those with hearing impairment, and graduate-level education of future specialists in audiology, deaf education and speech and hearing sciences," said Mark Wrighton, chancellor of Washington University, in a statement.

CID's school and outreach center will remain independent of the university. The school plans to refocus its pediatric audiology program and continue to provide faculty and practicum sites for audiology and deaf education programs at Wash U. The school also plans to expand its programs in early literacy of deaf children.

"The alliance enables CID to expand its work and mission in an exponential way, taking advantage of the clout and reputation of one of the nation's finest medical research programs," said Robert Clark, executive director of CID, in a statement. Clark said although CID raised more than $30 million in its capital campaign, its operating budget was "suffering" due to the high cost of scientific research, declining value of its endowment in the stock market and pressures on labor and operating costs.

CID was founded in 1914 as a school for the deaf and teacher-training center.

© 2003 American City Business Journals Inc.