Dean Rayamajhi’s Weekly Rundown

July 31, 2026

Dear colleagues,

Over the past two weeks, I've traveled from conference halls to classrooms to community campuses, seeing firsthand how learning and service intersect to shape the future of healthcare. Whether it’s experts gathering to advance their fields, students taking their first steps toward careers in medicine and science, or future doctors gaining valuable experiences while caring for patients in their community, each moment has reflected the growth, service, and dedication that define our college.

UP Visit

During a recent trip to the Upper Peninsula Campus, I had the opportunity to connect with the outstanding people who make our mission come to life every day. Spending time with our clerkship directors (all CHM graduates), meeting with our medical students, and engaging with leaders from UP Health System reinforced the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to preparing exceptional physicians for the communities that need them most. I was impressed to learn that one of our UP Campus students was an Early Assurance Program participant and a part of our TIP program. All four of the students I met shared a desire to someday work in the UP.

I am especially grateful to our Community Assistant Dean, Stuart Johnson, DO, whose leadership, dedication, and deep relationships across the region continue to strengthen our presence in the UP. It was encouraging to hear his updates on the continued success of our Rural Psychiatry Track and our Family Medicine Residency Program, both of which are making a meaningful impact by training physicians who are committed to serving rural communities. Visits like this are a powerful reminder of how proud we are of our community campuses and the extraordinary impact they have in educating future physicians and advancing health in every corner of our state.

Autism Conference

I was delighted Provost Laura Lee McIntyre, PhD, was able to join us for the 10th annual Department of Pediatrics and Human Development's Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Family and Professionals Conference last week. Provost McIntyre’s research focuses on children’s mental and behavioral health, special education, and prevention and intervention to promote child and family well-being in vulnerable and underserved populations. She gave a heartfelt address to the researchers, clinicians, educators, caregivers and those with autism attending the conference.
My thanks to the Provost for sharing her expertise and personal story, and for all the people in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development who work to put on this annual conference that invites all stakeholders to have a seat at the table. To read more about this year’s theme, Navigating Autism Science & Identity in the (Mis)Information Age, click here.

Bridge to PhD in Neuroscience Program

I attended the Bridge to PhD in Neuroscience Program (BPNP) Lab Coat Ceremony yesterday. These undergraduate students are beginning their journey through a comprehensive two-year research and training program designed to prepare them for graduate education and careers in neuroscience and biomedical research. Director of BPNP, Irving E. Vega, PhD, Red Cedar Distinguished Associate Professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience, enlightened me with details of this unique program that serves students from resource-limited institutions, including St. Mary’s University (San Antonio), the University of Texas at El Paso, North Carolina Central University, the University of Puerto Rico campuses at Cayey and Humacao, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico, as well as Michigan partner institutions Albion College and Grand Rapids Community College.

Through immersive hands-on research experiences, individualized mentorship, neuroscience coursework, professional development activities, and career planning, BPNP provides students with the skills and experiences needed to become competitive applicants for PhD, MD/PhD, and other advanced degree programs. It is an important pipeline for recruiting talented students from partner institutions into graduate programs at Michigan State University, strengthening the future neuroscience and biomedical research workforce. By providing sustained mentoring, research training, and exposure to the MSU academic environment, BPNP offers a strong foundation for future success in neuroscience and related biomedical fields.

HFH + MSU Retreat

Earlier this week, colleagues from Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University gathered in Novi for a daylong retreat. It marked the five-year anniversary of the HFH-MSU partnership and centered around clarity, focus and realignment. We heard feedback on the partnership’s evolution and progress being made on current priorities. Our conversations continued around the partnership’s future aspirations and strengths to achieve our shared vision. The group left with a renewed commitment and actionable steps to move forward together.

Welcoming Dr. Kirby Mayer

Speaking of partnerships, we are celebrating a first-of-its-kind collaboration in West Michigan through a multi-institutional faculty appointment with our college, Corewell Health and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation. Please join me in welcoming Kirby Mayer, PhD, as associate professor with tenure and research director of critical illness recovery in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Mayer will hold the same title at the Corewell Health Frederik Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute and serve as associate director of restorative health research at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation.

As a rehabilitation scientist and physical therapist, Dr. Mayer’s work is focused on improving long-term recovery and quality of life for ICU survivors. He comes to us from the University of Kentucky and will begin on August 10.

It feels especially fitting that we welcome Dr. Mayer on the same day orientation begins for our incoming class of medical students. Both moments reflect the growth and momentum of our college and our shared commitment to educating future physicians.

Thank you for everything you do to support our learners, colleagues, and our communities across Michigan and beyond. We are building a stronger future for those we serve.

In Spartan Spirit,

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