January College News Headlines

January 31, 2024

Research and Scholarship

• Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: Leonard Fleck, PhD, University Distinguished Professor in the Center for Bioethics and Social Justice, comments on the ethical issues around the high cost of gene cell therapies.
• Associated Press: Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, associate dean for public health and C. S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health, College of Human Medicine comments on the launch of Rx Kid, a new program to provide cash for pregnancy women in Flint and families with newborns. It is the first “citywide prenatal and infant cash allowance program in the U.S. and is designed ‘to propel a healthy start for all Flint babies during the critical first year of life.’” Related: ABC News, Bridge Magazine, MSN, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press, WILX-TV, WOOD-TV, Yahoo News, Fox News, Detroit News, WJRT-TV, New York Daily News, among others.
• New York Post: Gayle Shipp, PhD, assistant professor in the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, discusses the research on the benefits of breastfeeding in lowering the risk of childhood obesity, no matter the mother’s weight.
• Yahoo News: Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, comments in an article about the use of weight loss products in adolescents.
• University of Hawaii: The work of André Bachmann, PhD, professor and associate chair for research in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, is highlighted. During his time at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, he researched DFMO, which has now led to FDA approval for treatment in neuroblastoma. Related: UH Cancer Center.
• Yahoo News: Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, is quoted in an article about the FDA’s investigation into the potentially serious side effects of weight loss drugs.
• Mining Journal: Three medical students from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Upper Peninsula campus were recently inducted into the national medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha.
• MLive: Pine Rest and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine hire new behavioral health leader Nagy Youssef, MD, PhD.
• Yahoo News: Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, comments safety considerations of medication and what to look for on labels.
• Psychology Today: Evan Parks, PsyD, clinical assistant professor, discusses how mindfulness can rewire the brain.
• Swiss Impact: André Bachmann, PhD, professor and associate chair for research in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, shares a bit about his career in pediatric research and oncology, growing up in Switzerland and more.
• LA Times: Howard Schubiner, MD, clinical professor, contributes to study finding chronic back, neck pain comes from the mind. Related: Yahoo News.

Faculty and Staff Success

• Nagy Youssef, MD, PhD, was appointed director of the Division of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine.
• Ade Olomu, MD, was appointed interim associate dean for faculty affairs.
• Heather Laird-Fick, MD, MPH, was appointed director of the Office of Medical Education, Research and Development.
• Amber Heard-Booth, PhD, was appointed interim assistant dean of admissions.
• Amy Byerly, PhD, joined the college as the assistant director of Student Counseling and Wellness.

Student Success

• Donna Tran, MPH, third-year medical student, was appointed as an official District Commissioner for the City of San Jose. She will work with the mayor and council members on matters impacting older adults. She also interns for U.S. Rep Jimmy Panetta.
• JAMA recently published "Browsing the Journal of Gastrointestinal Distress," a poem written by third-year medical student Lisa Grove.