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College of Human Medicine

September College News Headlines

September 29, 2025


College News

  • West Michigan health care and business leaders celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Secchia Center. WZZM and WGVU covered the milestone.

  • Aron Sousa, MD, dean, College of Human Medicine, will become the next president and CEO of Rosalind Franklin University. Crain’s Grand Rapids and The State News provided coverage.

  • “Emblematic to the land grant mission of this university, the College of Human Medicine is a truly remarkable state-wide campus that touches the lives of most people within Michigan,” said Supratik Rayamajhi, MD, FACP, interim dean, College of Human Medicine, in this State News article as he takes on the role of interim dean Oct. 1.

Healthy Communities

  • “I don’t worry anymore. Without Rx Kids, I think I’d be poor, stressed out, just trying to cover the necessities.” MLive interviewed a Kalamazoo mother who spoke about the difference the cash prescription program has made in her life.

  • Benjamin Combs, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience, joined Margaret Howard from the Alzheimer’s Association to promote the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on WXMI’s Morning Mix.

  • Rx Kids expands to Hazel Park and Royal Oak Township. The cash prescription program is now available to families in 11 Michigan communities. CBS News Detroit, Crain’s Detroit, Bridge Detroit, Oakland County Times, and Michigan Chronicle provided reports.

  • Aron Sousa, MD, dean, College of Human Medicine and Rosalynn Bliss, assistant dean and external relations officer, promoted the Teddy Bear Health Fair in Grand Rapids. WOOD, WGVU, WXMI, WZZM provided promotion of the free family event. WOOD provided coverage.

  • Research on Rx Kids shows participant families saw a drop in evictions and fewer NICU admissions and preterm births. Detroit Free Press, Bridge Detroit, MLive and Michigan Public reported on the new findings.

Staff +Faulty Success

  • Eunhee Yi, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Physiology, was awarded a grant from the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation to support her research on extrachromosomal ecDNA to understand therapy-resistant cancers.

  • “In 20 years, oncology will be almost unrecognizable,” said Dan Isaac, DO, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine. He was featured in the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology’s 40th anniversary commemorative book.

Research + Scholarship

  • “To do this so quickly is a huge shock to the system and is going to dramatically reduce paylines the next few years, until things catch up,” said Benjamin Combs, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience, in this Washington Post article about the changing landscape of NIH funding.

  • Keith English, MD, chair, and Rebecca Knickmeyer, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, answered the calls from media seeking truth about the alleged connection between the over-the-counter painkiller and autism. WJRT and WOOD provided reports.

  • Federal cuts to behavioral health and the effect on public safety. Cara Poland, MD, addiction specialist and associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, offered her expertise in this Brennan Center for Justice brief.

  • “From the animal studies, there are concerns about the compound causing cancer and fertility issues,” said Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, in this Women’s Health article examining a common gel nail polish ingredient recently banned in Europe. Related: Wall Street Journal.

  • "We know that THC crosses the placenta and concentrates in fetal tissue, especially the brain,” said Cara Poland, MD, addiction specialist and associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, in this article in the New York Times examining new guidance on cannabis use during pregnancy. CNN and Health Day also provided coverage.

  • Miriam Vos, MD, MSPH, professor and associate chair for translational research in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, shared that “as ultraprocessed foods go up, health indicators go down” in this JAMA article summarizing an American Heart Association scientific advisory examining what’s known about ultraprocessed foods and beverages.

  • Clearing up vaccine confusion. Rebecca Schein, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, offers her expertise in this Detroit News article examining conflicting COVID-19 vaccine guidance for children.

  • “Some medications are not good when they are consumed with coffee or other caffeine sources,” said Jamie Alan, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, in this Prevention article listing a dozen medications you should never mix with coffee.

  • What does your sense of smell have to do with Alzheimer’s disease? Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, assistant professor and director of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, weighs in on a new study in this Women’s Health article. Related: Yahoo.

  • “The study raises the concern that modest amounts of alcohol might increase the risk of dementia,” said Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, assistant professor and director of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, in this Women’s Health article examining a new study.

Alumni/Donors

  • “At a young age, I learned about disparities in care and became interested in how medicine plays a role in that.” Subha Hanif, MD (‘20), offers reflection on her experience in this article titled “The 17 Skills Medical Schools Expect from Students on Day One” from the American Medical Association.