Dean Rayamajhi’s Weekly Rundown

January 30, 2026

Greetings,

As Michigan settles into another winter cold snap, I hope this message finds you staying warm, safe, and well. Whether you’re braving the chill at one of our campuses or keeping cozy at home, I’m grateful for all you do and I’m sending a little extra warmth your way as we head into the coming weeks.

Community and Partnership Commitment

Yesterday I joined our cohorts from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Nursing at Henry Ford Health in Brighton. We workshopped and explored opportunities to work together in this partnership. When Michigan State University Health Sciences and Henry Ford Health announced our 30-year partnership in January 2021, we committed to working together with communities across the state to transform lives. We’re committed to the same mission with all our partners across the state. It’s just one of the many beautiful aspects of being a community-based medical school.

AAMC

I was in Washington, D.C., last week attending the Association for American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Council of Deans. AAMC has been providing advocacy and support for medical colleges across the US and Canada for more than 150 years. During the Executive Development Seminar for Deans, I had an opportunity to meet with other new and interim deans. We learned that although not everyone was born to be a leader, through community and mentorship, much can be learned. I’m thankful for this group of new leaders to collaborate with as we navigate unprecedented times.

Return of Town Halls

We heard your feedback and Town Halls are back! I hope you were able to join Nara Parameswaran, PhD, senior associate dean for research and Chaz Hong, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Medicine, last Friday for the refreshed College of Human Medicine Town Hall. Nara provided an update on research issues and Chaz shared how his lab is looking at chemical and human genetics to uncover biological insights and find new cures. If you missed it, you can catch up here. We look forward to sharing updates and featuring different members of the leadership team on most Fridays at noon. Keep an eye out for future emails with more information about the Town Halls!

Coaches vs. Cancer

When you’re cheering on our MSU men’s basketball team tonight as they take on the University of Michigan, keep in mind that our friends at the American Cancer Society have been hard at work ahead of the rivalry game raising money for cancer research. The ACS’s Coaches vs. Cancer program encourages basketball coaches across the country to rally and support the fight against cancer. Coach Tom Izzo recently spent time with three of our own ACS-funded researchers. Todd Lucas, PhD, and Olivia Aspiras, PhD, both from the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, and Eran Andrechek, PhD, Department of Physiology, signed the custom sneakers Coach Izzo will be wearing during the game tonight. Those shoes will be auctioned off after the game with the money raised going to support ground-breaking cancer research.

MLK Jr. Day

My thanks to Wanda Lipscomb, PhD, associate dean for Student Affairs, for representing the college at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Presentation. This was the 7th annual event which is a collaboration between the college and our One Team, One Health partners including the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Nursing. Michigan State alumnus Michael A. Henderson, DO, spoke about how our university offers access and opens doors, just as Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of, reminding us that although being the 'first' can be scary, persistence pays off.

As we continue this important work together, let us carry forward that spirit of courage, access, and service in all that we do. Thank you for your continued dedication to our college and our mission. 

In Spartan Spirit,

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