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College of Human Medicine

Dean Rayamajhi’s Weekly Rundown

April 24, 2026

Dear colleagues,

I started the week engaging in highlights of the national meeting of the AAMC Group on Student Affairs (GSA), Group on Collaboration, Engagement, and Community (GCEC), and Organization of Student Representatives (OSR). This year’s theme “Together, We Lead” was particularly fitting, reflecting the many staff, faculty, and students who play a vital role in moving the College of Human Medicine forward. I was pleased Victor O. Akinyemi, MPH (M1) was able to attend. He’s pictured here with David J. Skorton, MD, president and CEO of AAMC. Victor said attending the conference was “an incredibly impactful experience that strengthened my perspective on leadership, advocacy, and institutional change in medical education. Through conversations with student leaders and national faculty, I gained valuable insight into how strong student representation, mentorship structures, and strategic advocacy can shape both student success and the future of our institution.”


Victor O. Akinyemi, MPH (M1) pictured with David J. Skorton, MD, president and CEO of AAMC.

A panel of faculty that discussed engaging alumni in career advising.

My appreciation goes to Kelly Armstrong, MD, assistant dean for student career and professional development; Deana Wilbanks, EdD, director of medical student career advising; and Joel Maurer, MD, senior faculty advisor for admissions and careers; who organized, monitored, and presented an excellent panel on engaging alumni in career advising.

Becker’s Health Conference in Chicago

It seems it was a week full of medical conferences. The 16th Annual Becker’s Healthcare Meeting was held in Chicago. Artificial intelligence emerged as the most prominent and forward-looking theme, viewed as the next frontier for driving efficiency and redesigning care delivery models. Leaders highlighted the persistent gap between the high cost of health care and outcomes that do not justify that spend. Health equity was emphasized as a central priority, with renewed focus on reducing disparities across populations. There was strong alignment around transitioning to value-based care, prioritizing outcomes over volume. Additionally, systems are actively shifting care closer to home to reduce dependence on expensive acute hospital settings. Overall, the dialogue reflected a strategic push toward a more efficient, technology-enabled, and equitable health care system.

Academy Elects O'Halloran

A huge congratulations goes out to Thomas O’Halloran, PhD, MSU Research Foundation Professor of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics and Chemistry, on the incredible honor of being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in the field of Chemistry. The academy, founded in 1780, honors leaders from every field of human endeavor while committing to the values of advancing the common good, elevating the use of evidence and knowledge, and embracing diversity and inclusivity. Tom is the founding director of the Elemental Health Institute (EHI) and the founder and faculty director of the Quantitative Bio Element Analysis and Mapping (QBEAM) Center. His work brings together interdisciplinary faculty and students from across Michigan State University to research the inorganic aspects of human health.

Library Dedication

Nigel Paneth, MD, MPH, founding chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, has helped create a departmental library and reading room that was inaugurated on Wednesday with a celebration in the department. Dr. Paneth has been collecting books with relevance to epidemiology for many decades and much of this collection, combined with volumes already owned by the department, forms the nucleus of this library. Older volumes in Dr. Paneth’s collection are slated to become part of Special Collections in the MSU main library. This reading room is intended to serve as a quiet space where students and faculty can, with the help of the accumulated wisdom of these books, reflect on their own work and renew their commitment to using epidemiology to improve the health of the public.

Nigel Paneth, MD, MPH library dedication.

Sharing Shelves Spring Donation Drive

Finally, I would like to highlight an important community resource that reflects our commitment to caring for one another during challenging financial times. The spring donation drive for the CHM Sharing Shelves runs through the end of the month. Essential food and hygiene items can be dropped off at East Lansing and Grand Rapids locations found in the link above, and an Amazon Wish List is available for virtual giving. A recent survey of College of Human Medicine students shows how important this initiative is:

  • 10% of first-year (M1) students reported sometimes not having enough food
  • 22% of M1 students reported eating the same unhealthy food for several days due to cost
  • 27% of second-year (M2) students reported sometimes not having enough food
  • 36% of M2 students reported worrying their food would run out before they had money to buy more

I extend my sincere thanks to the staff at the Office of Student Affairs and Services Health and Wellness Program for making this critical resource available.
 

In Spartan Spirit,

Supratik Rayamajhi, MD, FACP
Interim Dean, MSU College of Human Medicine