Dean Rayamajhi’s Weekly Rundown

October 23, 2026

Dear colleagues,

This has been a time of connection and recognition across our college. As we navigate a rapidly changing landscape in healthcare, research, and education, I am continually inspired by each of you as we prepare future physicians, advance discovery, and serve our communities.

W.K. Kellogg Award

The Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health has been recognized with the prestigious W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Award. This regional award is a testament to the transformative, community-led partnerships that define our work in Flint. MSU’s Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health and community partners throughout Genesee County have forged a first-of-its-kind collaboration, creating the first academic department co-developed and co-led with the community to improve health. To ensure community voices are not just heard but are integrated into the decision-making fabric of the department, community members actively participate in departmental governance through the Community Co-Governance Council.

MSU now advances as one of four finalists for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award. The winner will be announced in November. Read all about it here.

Outstanding Faculty and Staff

Just like in Flint, the people of the College of Human Medicine are what power our passion and mission. Each year, the Faculty and Staff Awards remind us that our greatest strengths are the dedication, talent, and compassion of our community, making it one of my favorite opportunities to celebrate and thank those who advance our mission in countless ways. My deepest gratitude goes out to those recognized this year and all of you for the extraordinary contributions you make every day. To see everyone recognized this year, click on this link. I’d also like to congratulate all of those recently promoted.

New Faculty Welcome

Last Friday, we welcomed 10 faculty members who joined the college over the past year for the annual New Faculty Welcome. This year’s event featured a condensed, half-day format designed to introduce faculty to the college, foster connections, and provide resources for professional growth.

I was able to share my own career journey at MSU, reflecting on how involvement in college committees and leadership opportunities helped shape my path from a new faculty member to interim dean. My message emphasized that career paths are not always predictable, and that new opportunities often emerge through engagement and service.

Throughout the afternoon, participants explored CHM’s tripartite mission and faculty appointment systems, practiced their “elevator speeches,” and discussed the importance of building mentoring networks. Small-group conversations with college leaders provided opportunities for personal connections and insights into CHM’s educational, clinical, and faculty affairs initiatives.

The afternoon concluded with an introduction to MSU’s Academic Profile, a tool for documenting faculty accomplishments and professional activities.

Alumni Weekend

Alumni Weekend and Homecoming provides time to reconnect with members of our Alumni Board, celebrate their continued commitment to the college, and strengthen our partnerships. My thanks to the members who traveled near and far for our fall board meeting. To see photos of many of the most memorable moments of Alumni Weekend, click here.

My thanks to Chad Klochko, MD (‘13) vice chair of Translational Research and Informatics in the Department of Radiology, for delivering the Transforming Health Grand Rounds: Alumni Weekend Special Edition lecture titled "Artificial Intelligence, Actual Medicine: What AI Can Do, What It Can't, and How to Tell the Difference." Stacey Pylman, PhD, associate professor in the Office of Medical Education Research and Development (OMERAD), and Harland Holman, MD, associate professor and associate chair of academic affairs in the Department of Family Medicine, offered their expertise on this rapidly evolving topic as members of the panel. If you missed the lecture, you can watch it here.

Congratulations to Dean Brent Donnellan, PhD, from the College of Social Science, for winning the epic cornhole competition among Michigan State deans. One of the best parts of the event was seeing students gather to cheer on the competitors. It created an opportunity for connecting, including moments when students could interact with and root for university leaders they may not otherwise have the chance to meet. I’m already looking forward to next year's rematch and the chance to bring the title home.

In Spartan Spirit,

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