Rooted in Values: Serving the Southeast Michigan Community

November 6, 2026

Growing up in metro Detroit as a daughter of immigrants, Christina Rabban didn’t have any family members who worked in the field of medicine.

“I’ve always admired the impact a physician could have on someone’s life,” she said.

During her junior year at University of Detroit Mercy, Rabban applied to Michigan State University College of Human Medicine through the Early Assurance Program partnership. She was drawn to MSU’s emphasis on primary care and commitment to underserved communities.

“MSU’s mission really lines up with the values I grew up with,” she said. Rabban credits her Catholic faith for instilling in her the importance of serving others, loving people where they are, and recognizing the dignity of every person.

“Medicine is special to me because it’s not just about treating an illness, but about being there for someone during some of their most vulnerable moments and hopefully making those moments a little less difficult.”

As a medical student at the College of Human Medicine’s Southeast Michigan Campus, serving the community she grew up in means the world to Rabban.

“My father worked long hours in a Detroit liquor store to provide for his family, and because of his hard work and sacrifices, I now have the privilege of training to become a physician in the same city where he worked so hard to give me the opportunities I have today,” she said.

“There is something so special about being able to give back to a community that has been part of my family's story. I hope to serve this community with the same humility, compassion, and dedication that my parents have shown me throughout my life.”

Now in her third year as a medical student, Rabban is looking forward to continuing her clinical rotations; especially in pediatrics. She hopes to complete a pediatric residency somewhere in the Southeast Michigan area after graduation.

“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for pediatrics and I’m part of the Pediatric Interest Group,” she said. “Getting to spend an entire month learning from pediatricians, caring for children, and experiencing the specialty I hope to pursue is something I have been looking forward to since starting medical school.”

Rabban considers the College of Human Medicine a blessing and is thankful for the lessons she’s learned so far.

“I love medicine and everything that comes with it, but I've also learned that it's important not to lose myself in the process of becoming a physician,” she said.

“Being a medical student is tough, but the support that MSU has given me has made these past two years some of the greatest of my life!”

By Claudia Price