Rural Roots, Rural Training: Blazing a New Trail in Cadillac
November 19, 2025
New partnership at Cadillac Hospital offers immersive, full-scope clinical training for CHM students
Growing up on his family’s farm in Hudsonville, Britton Michmerhuizen (M3) worked in landscaping and construction, a background that set an early direction for his path through medical school.
“I think it's highlighted for me where there's needs in a community, in rural communities especially. Meeting those is something that I've been passionate about, even before I came to the College of Human Medicine.”
Britton is the first College of Human Medicine student to spend his third year doing rotations at Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital.
At a mid-November reception recognizing the partnership between Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Cadillac Hospital, Britton spoke about the advantages of learning and serving in a small rural hospital.
"I know that I'm not being shown just one side of medicine or maybe the part that's most appropriate for somebody taking their first steps,” said Britton. “When I'm here in Cadillac, I feel like I'm going in deep. That's something I really value. If I'm going to learn a job, I want to learn the whole thing---no holds barred."
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine has been training medical students and residents in rural communities for more than 50 years. David Klee, MD, community assistant campus dean for the Traverse City campus, said the Rural Community Health certificate program prepares future physicians for leadership and service in community-based rural health networks.
"It was designed to bring medical students to our rural communities so that they learn about medical care and how it's different here in rural areas. And they train here right in the community," said Dr. Klee.
Andrea Wendling, MD, director of the Leadership in Rural Medicine program said students aren’t just living and working in the communities they serve. They meet with local mayors and members of the chamber of commerce so they can understand the area, and with local health department leaders so they can see how public health resources are delivered to the community.
"They work with intention with the community groups so that they can understand the patient's perspective,” said Dr. Wendling. “Where they live and where they work, what educational opportunities they have so that they can understand their patient population better during their time here as well."
Britton says he’s noticed many of the patients he’s treated in Cadillac aren’t always quick to admit they need the services provided.
“They come to our offices, to our hospital, because they have something going on that they can't deal with by themselves. It's a humbling experience, and one that many of the hearty country folk I know don't encounter all that often.”
Britton says providing that care to patients so they can get back on their feet and back to their lives provides a special kind of satisfaction that fuels his commitment to serving the patients where they live.
“I think the students that really enjoyed this program have backgrounds like that. They deeply care about the people and the medicine that comes out of it,” said Britton. “I think if people continue to care about their neighbors in rural communities, it'd be hard to go wrong in this program.”
Media Coverage
UpNorthLive | MSU expands rural health education with new site in Cadillac