Dean Rayamajhi’s Weekly Rundown

August 28, 2026

Dear colleagues,

I’m still reflecting on the excitement and inspiration of last week’s Matriculation and White Coat Ceremony where I was truly honored to welcome 190 incoming future Spartan MDs to the College of Human Medicine.

You might be surprised to learn that just a couple of weeks ago, I attended my first ever white coat ceremony. My niece received her white coat at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. The modern-day White Coat Ceremony originated at Pritzker in 1989, as a way to mark the transition of students entering medical training, rather than waiting until graduation to emphasize professional oaths. Watching my niece take part in this tradition inside the walls of the nearly 100-year-old Rockefeller Memorial Chapel was literally a spiritual experience for me.

That feeling returned to me in an even more powerful way Saturday when, in my role as interim dean, I was honored to welcome the incoming class of 2026 to the College of Human Medicine. Shaking the hands of our new students and seeing the smiles, tears, and pride on the faces of their loved ones was a moving and uplifting experience. We're reminded of our mission and our reach by looking at the numbers: 80% of the incoming class comes from 30 Michigan counties. 18 students will participate in the Leadership in Community and Public Health Program and 28 in our Leadership in Rural Medicine Program. Many come with a master's degree, others from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. It's our experiences, our goals, and our unique paths to medicine that set us apart, and what brings us together to be Michigan's State of Medicine.

Watch a recap video here and media coverage from WOOD TV here.

HFH + MSU

The Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Cancer External Advisory Board recently met at Cowles House on campus. President Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, addressed the leaders of this critical partnership, as did Adnan Munkarah, MD, president and clinical enterprise and chief physician executive at Henry Ford Health. Chaz Hong, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Medicine, and I enjoyed speaking with David Lanfear, MD, HFH + MSU board member and research committee vice chair. Together, this partnership is truly transforming lives and leading to discoveries and advancement of new standards of health.

Our Partners in Flint

It was such a joy to spend time with our leaders and partners in Flint and learn more about the important work happening throughout the community. Our Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health is truly pioneering, with a model co-developed and co-governed directly with the local community. That commitment to partnership is at the heart of what makes the program so special. Spending time with key community leaders and partners gave us an opportunity to better understand the impact of our work, listen, and learn from those who know the community best, and identify new ways we can strengthen our partnerships and deepen our collective impact.

Leadership Updates

I want to reiterate my praise and gratitude for Nara Parameswaran, PhD. As I announced yesterday, Nara will be retiring on December 1. He has served as senior associate dean for research since 2023, and previously as associate dean for faculty affairs, among other leadership positions throughout his tenure. On December 2, he will join Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science as executive vice president for research. His dedication, humility, and kindness will be greatly missed. Jack Lipton, PhD, founding chair of the Department of Translational Neuroscience and associate dean for research analytics, will serve as senior associate dean for research in an interim capacity beginning December 2. Between his experience and tenure at the College of Human Medicine, he is well prepared to take on this role.

Serving the Community

Finally, I'd like thank Farid Alsabeh (M3) for representing our college so well. Farid, one of our Dean's Scholars, practiced as a master's level psychologist in a community mental health clinic before entering medical school. During a campus-wide day of volunteering, a pillar of our college's mission, he was introduced to the incredible work happening at Gilda's Club Grand Rapids. Recognizing a chance to share his expertise with the community, Farid now volunteers at Gilda's Club a couple times per month leading sessions focused on mindful detachment which resonates with my personal experience and practice of vipassana meditation. He recently shared his work and experience with reporters from WOOD TV and Rapid Growth.

No matter where you are across the state, you probably noticed a hint of a fall chill in the air this week. If you're on campus, you can't miss the return of students and the excitement of a fresh start. Together, we look forward to a year of learning, discovery, service, and impact across our college and the communities we serve.

In Spartan Spirit,

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