USA TODAY recognizes Mona Hanna in “2025 Women of the Year”

March 18, 2025

As Rx Kids, a cash prescription program for expecting and new parents, turns one, its co-creator Mona Hanna, MD, Rx Kids director, associate dean for public health, and Charles Stewart Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health, has been recognized as one of USA TODAY’s 2025 Women of the Year. The list honors women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country.

“This recognition is a tremendous honor of our Spartan-led work to do the impossible. This is what being a Spartan is all about especially at the College of Human Medicine,” said Hanna. “We do big things; we solve big problems that no one else can. We make the world a better place. I appreciate the honor as we continue the work of offering health, hope, and opportunity to families across our great state."

Hanna, who is credited with discovering and bringing attention to the Flint water crisis a decade ago, continues to advocate for Michigan children through Rx Kids, which is the first-ever community-wide cash prescription program for pregnant women and babies. Frustrated she couldn’t keep the children of Flint from getting sick, she went to work bringing together public and private funding for the program which gives expectant mothers $1,500 a month while pregnant, and $500 a month for the first year of their baby’s life. No strings attached. The program boasts cutting low-income evictions to zero.

“In the blue city of Flint and the red counties of the Eastern UP, the Rx Kids team is working to reduce child poverty one mom and one kid at a time, regardless of who they are, how much they make, what they look like, or who they love. Mona is committed to empowering families to raise strong, healthy children,” said Aron Sousa, MD, dean of the College of Human Medicine.

Rx Kids has seen recent expansion to the city of Kalamazoo and several counties in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Last week, Senate Democrats unveiled a plan called “Building Blocks” which includes expanding Rx Kids statewide. In a statement about the proposed plan Hanna said, “I look forward to continuing to work with the Michigan Legislature to expand Rx Kids statewide so that every Michigan baby gets the strongest, healthiest start possible.”