Dean Rayamajhi’s Weekly Rundown
June 19, 2026
Dear colleagues,
Earlier today, I joined healthcare colleagues at the Care Provider Excellence Program at UM-Health Sparrow. As a reminder, the deadline for all MSU medical staff to complete this training is June 30.
As we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor the resilience and contributions of Black Americans and reflect on our shared responsibility to promote health equity and address disparities that continue to affect communities across our state and nation. This is our mission.
Our community of Spartans has entered another period of change with the recent news of President Guskiewicz’s departure. It leaves many feeling uncertain and seeking clarity. I anticipate we’ll hear about the Board of Trustees’ plan for interim leadership in the coming weeks.
The College of Human Medicine is resilient, and we have strong leadership. I am confident our mission-focused work will continue because of you, our exceptional department chairs, passionate faculty, talented academic and support staff, and dedicated students across our eight campuses.
I want to remind you all that my focus remains on advocating for what’s best for the college and the people we serve. Continue to reach out if you have questions.
Double Honors for Dr. Woodruff
Please join me in congratulating Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD, who elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society and the American Philosophical Society. The Royal Society is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions. With this distinction, she joins some of the most influential scientists in history, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Albert Einstein. The American Philosophical Society, founded by Benjamin Franklin, is the oldest learned society in the United States.
MSU is fortunate to have such an accomplished scholar like Dr. Woodruff, whose discoveries have transformed reproductive health and inspired scientists across disciplines and around the world. You can read more about these honors and Dr. Woodruff’s work here.
Student Leadership & Success
My congratulations go out to several students who were recently selected for standout opportunities. Second-year student Victor O. Akinyemi, MPH, will serve on the 2026-2027 President’s Student Advisory Council. During this time of institutional change, Victor will be tasked with amplifying the voices of Spartan students, providing advice and feedback on various campus initiatives, and collaborating with MSU leadership. A big thank you to Victor for taking on this important role!
The newest cohort of participants in the Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program includes four College of Human Medicine students. Angel G. A. Prempeh (M3), Michelle Lai (M3), Mathew Park (M3), and Amir Alexander Young (M3) are among the 80 medical students across the nation to participate in a six-week summer experience designed to introduce future physicians to clinical research early in their careers. What an incredible opportunity for our students to shine.
Rx Kids Summer Roll Out
The Spartan green and white are clearly visible alongside the bright red of Rx Kids. The program founded by Mona Hanna, MD, MPH, our associate dean of Public Health, was recently featured on Good Morning America. The ambitious summer expansion is underway, with seven new communities across Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Muskegon counties. On Monday, a press conference in Grand Rapids' 49507 ZIP code will mark the next phase of July 1 expansions, bringing direct support to even more families.
As Dr. Mona often reminds us, where a baby is born should never determine their chance of a healthy life. Through Rx Kids, that vision is becoming a reality for families across Michigan.
Inspiring Leaders
I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Grand Rapids Economic Club Annual Dinner and listen to Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton reflect on their time in office and their friendship that has deepened over the years. I was inspired by listening to them discuss the value of collaboration and mutual purpose. It was a powerful reminder that progress is often built on finding common ground, respecting different perspectives, and focusing on shared goals rather than partisan differences. They emphasized the power of humility, recognizing that no one person has all the answers, and that lasting accomplishments are almost always the result of collective effort.
A Pillar of Community Health
If you need a sign that we will continue to stand proud and tall as Spartans, look no further than the new billboard inside the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. We are proud to be a “Pillar of Community Health,” rooted in eight campuses across Michigan, with a mission that reaches far beyond our state.
We Must Do
A recent week abroad with my family was a welcome opportunity to pause, reflect, and return with a fresh perspective. During our travels, we visited the Leonardo Interactive Museum in Florence. As one of the greatest geniuses of all time, da Vinci said, “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”
Like many of you, I have felt the weight of an uncertain year marked with several transitions. Thank you for the ways you continue to support one another, both in this moment and always.
In Spartan Spirit,
Supratik Rayamajhi, MD, FACP
Interim Dean, MSU College of Human Medicine