Dean Rayamajhi’s Weekly Rundown
July 2, 2026
Dear colleagues,
I hope you have the opportunity to step away from work over the next few days to enjoy the semiquincentennial celebrations taking place across our country with family and friends. As you do, I encourage you to reflect on how our work of providing compassionate care, advancing groundbreaking research, and educating the next generation of physicians, helps make the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness more attainable for the people and communities we serve.
Trust in Healthcare
Nothing says summer in Michigan like Mackinac Island. I was delighted to meet with other leaders in healthcare from across the state at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Annual Meeting on this small island of Midwest paradise. For more than 100 years, the MHA has represented hospitals and health systems in the legislative and regulatory circles. You know the hurdles healthcare has overcome over the last century. So, during this time when fewer people are willing to give their trust, we must continue our work to earn the trust of our patients and partners. It was reassuring to hear the leaders of two of our partners speak about building trust in Michigan healthcare. Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health, and Robert Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, served as panelists on a discussion titled Building Trust Through Humility, Purpose and Lived Experience. They spoke about navigating a time of immense growth of misinformation and AI, and renewing commitments to transparent communication and care.
Visiting Traverse City
From Mackinac to another beautiful Up North gem, our visit to Traverse City provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships with our hospital partners and faculty at Munson Medical Center while gaining a deeper appreciation for the incredible work taking place across that region. The day began in meetings with David Klee, MD, community assistant dean, and the dedicated team that supports our medical students, highlighting the collaborative approach to education and student success. We also had the opportunity to meet with hospital leaders and their leadership team to discuss our shared commitment to advancing medical education, patient care, and community health.
In the afternoon, we toured the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center, where we saw firsthand the innovative and compassionate work being done to support individuals experiencing behavioral health crises while creating an exceptional learning environment for students.
Kelly Hirko, PhD and Jean Kerver, PhD, both associate professors in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, tap into the community in Traverse City for their work. As a cancer epidemiologist, Hirko works to identify modifiable factors that contribute to the unequal burden of cancer. Kerver, a nutritional and perinatal epidemiologist, works to uncover early-life causes of childhood disorders in part by leading an NIH-funded Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort site (Observational studies (ECHO Cohorts) - ECHO).
We concluded the day with a visit to the Mobile Medical Unit, an inspiring example of meeting people where they are by bringing high-quality care directly into communities and expanding access for those who need it most. It was a full and meaningful day that reinforced the strength of our partnership and our shared mission to improve health across Michigan.
Rx Kids Summer Roll Out
We welcomed Provost Laura Lee McIntyre, PhD, to Grand Rapids for the press conference unveiling the expansion of Rx Kids in the 49507 ZIP code of Kent County. As of July 1, expectant mothers who are at least 16 weeks pregnant and reside in that Grand Rapids ZIP code, the Calhoun County cities of Albion, Battle Creek, Springfield, and Sheridan Township, are eligible to apply. Rx Kids is a place-based program designed to improve maternal and infant health by addressing the economic hardship families face during pregnancy and infancy. As a first-of-its-kind prenatal and infant cash prescription program, Rx Kids helps improve family financial stability at the most critical time.
As Dr. Mona said in a recent conversation I had with her “this is the biggest movement for mitigating poverty in the country, and our university is at the forefront of it.”
Now in 60 Michigan communities, most families hear about Rx Kids through friends, family, or word-of-mouth. If you know an expectant family in Michigan, encourage them to check the Rx Kids website to see if they live in a partnering community.
Teddy Bear Health Fair
Speaking of making a difference in the community, our College of Human Medicine Teddy Bear Health Fair marked 20 years of bringing healthcare to the people in Lansing. I want to thank all our students who truly lived our mission of serving by spending time with the youngest members of the Lansing community and showing them going to the doctor doesn’t have to be scary. If you haven’t been to a Teddy Bear Health Fair, check out this video featuring Onora Lancaster (M2), Karen Encalada (M3), and Keith English, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development.
I agree with Dr. English when he said “this might be one of the most important things our college does. We’re proud of the many years we’ve been supporting the health and well-being of the children of Lansing. We think this event shows the community that we’re in this for the long run. We’re always going to be here.”
The next Teddy Bear Health Fairs will be held in Flint on August 15, and Grand Rapids on October 10.
As we celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary, may you also embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. Times of transition often test us, but they also invite us to grow, innovate, and strengthen our commitment to one another. Thank you for all you do to advance our mission each day. I wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyful holiday.
In Spartan Spirit,
Supratik Rayamajhi, MD, FACP
Interim Dean, MSU College of Human Medicine