U.P. Campus Marks Fifty Years of Rural Medicine

April 23, 2025

In January 1974, the first group of medical students began classes in the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Campus, one of the first programs in the nation to prepare doctors for rural areas. For more than 50 years, the college has been dedicated to increasing the health care workforce in underserved areas by educating future Spartan MDs who will practice in communities across the U.P.

The Start of the U.P. Campus

Fifty years ago, medical students made their debut in Escanaba, Michigan at Doctor’s Park, the original site of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Rural Physician Program. Since then, the program has graduated 350 doctors, many of whom continue to practice in the area.

The idea for a clinical campus in the UP began in 1969 with W. Donald Weston, associate dean at the College of Human Medicine, and other medical academics brainstorming the framework for a curriculum in rural medical education to address the physician shortage that rural areas were experiencing.

Despite skepticism and the perception that medical education would be inferior in the rural area, Weston persisted. There simply were not enough physicians in the U.P. and this concept offered a solution, according to the program’s history.

With funding secured and support from the College of Human Medicine’s dean Andrew Hunt, MD, the pilot program began, and the Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation was formed to work in tandem with the college.

The story of the new Michigan State University College of Human Medicine rural campus circulated throughout the Upper Peninsula while a location was considered. Two family physicians, Drs. Ray Hockstad and Donald Fitch, were particularly enthusiastic and gained the support of other local clinicians to establish St. Franscis Hospital in Escanaba as the first teaching site. 

MSU’s approach to community-based medicine was unconventional. After completing basic science training during their preclinical years in Lansing, students continued their training in clinics and hospitals across Michigan, which now included the U.P.

Over time, more physicians and trained health care professionals took on teaching roles. Steve Messimer, one of the campus’ first preceptors in Escanaba, called it “one of the most innovative medical education experiences in the country.”

Regular lectures were rare, as students used programmed learning modules for their didactic learning and were assigned a panel of families for whom they would provide care.

“They would start by learning interviewing skills under the direct supervision of a clinical provider and move on to managing clinical issues as their learning and physical diagnostic skills improved,” Messimer said. “All student patient encounters were observed by a provider and a clinical psychologist with feedback on all aspects of their encounter. It was a wonderful system for all involved.”

After students completed 18 months of training in Escanaba they began clinical clerkships at other locations in the Upper Peninsula, such as Marquette General Hospital.

As the successful clinical campus in Escanaba continued, the Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation administrative office was established in Marquette to create more opportunities for medical students.

“In the 1980’s, Marquette became the hub of a rapidly expanding medical community of young, well-trained board certified medical and surgical specialists,” said Bill Short, MD, former community assistant dean.

During this period, a family medicine residency program was established by local physician, Daniel Mazzuchi, MD.

“Marquette became the logical site for the U.P. medical campus relocation,” said Short. “Dan’s leadership inspired within these physicians a willingness to teach as Marquette General Hospital grew into a regional medical campus.”

In 1986, the U.P. Campus relocated to Marquette, at the Wallace Building on West Magnetic Street, on the Marquette General Hospital grounds.

In 1996 the U.P. Campus was named the Rural Physician Program under the Leadership in Rural Medicine certificate program to reflect the mission.

Community Focused

Throughout the years, resident physicians of the UP Health System – Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program have been integral in providing mentorship and clinical training within the learning spaces of the teaching hospital.

"From the start of my training in the U.P., the Marquette Family Medicine residents stood out—not just for how knowledgeable they are, but for how willing they were to take the time to teach and mentor medical students,” said Sydney Rechner, fourth-year medical student.

“I still remember my first time working night shifts with the family medicine teaching service and how nervous I was. Dr. Naracon helped me feel confident and truly part of the team. She took me under her wing, and I learned so much in just that first week.”

Resident physicians from the Michigan State University Psychiatry Residency Program, have joined in the mentorship role since the 2020 inception of the U.P. Rural Track program in Marquette, bringing much needed mental health care providers to the community.

”Our students learn at health care systems and physician practices throughout the U.P.,” said Stuart Johnson, DO, community assistant dean. "It is with gratitude to our college, hospital, clerkship directors, preceptors, mentors, and all the stakeholders who have contributed to this campus, that makes rural education in the UP possible.”

Research has shown that medical students who train in the U.P. are more likely to practice in the U.P., select a specialty needed in a rural community, and practice in the state of Michigan. Since the campus began, 24 percent of U.P. medical students have practiced in the UP after graduation.

“We strive to foster the growth and education of our U.P. Campus students, in the hopes they return to live and practice in our U.P. communities,” said Johnson. “Our team takes great pride in being a small part of the 50 years of medical education in the Upper Peninsula. We look forward to many more years of cultivating our learners to be their best.”

By Liz Beckman

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