News
Read the latest edition of the college newsletter Med News.
More college news in the News Archives.
Dean's Update
June 2, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
Periodically, I bring other people into the update to express their own experiences or to write about their community. This week, I am including a few paragraphs written by Man Yee (Tiffie) Keung, a Flint Campus medical student in the Class of 2024.
NIH awards MSU $4M to study rare children’s disease Bachmann-Bupp Syndrome
May 31, 2023
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a prestigious grant to a College of Human Medicine professor and a Helen Devos Children’s Hospital physician to study a rare genetic disease and related disorders that until recently were unknown.
Published Research
May 27, 2023
The latest published research from College of Human Medicine faculty.
Dean's Update
May 26, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
For all the struggles and challenges in the world, it is heartening and inspiring to be with people actively working to improve opportunity and communication. As I wrote last week, we hosted Black Leaders of Detroit (BLD) and Flint community members at the Flint Journal Building last Sunday.
Research Grants
May 26, 2023
The latest research grants awarded to faculty at the College of Human Medicine.
Celebrating the Class of 2023!
May 25, 2023
On May 13, the Class of 2023 reunited at the MSU College of Human Medicine Commencement Ceremony after spending their third and fourth years of medical school in hospitals and clinics at the college’s statewide community campuses. See all the ways we celebrated them!
Flint Campus student selected for NFL diversity in sports medicine program
May 25, 2023
Tamarandobra (Dobra) Ogeh, a third-year medical student at the College of Human Medicine’s Flint Campus will get to complete one-month clinical rotation with the Detroit Lions and Henry Ford Health sports medicine physicians as part of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative.
Dean's Update
May 19, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
Our peoples suffer war, persecution, and disasters amplified by distrusts we hold dear and fears that hopelessness foments in us. And yet, as I looked out on our graduates last Saturday, and I watched Ben and Anne promise themselves to each other, and as I heard our students respond to Dr. Mona’s call with their own prescriptions for a healthier world, my fears lessened and my hope was kindled.
Bachmann and collaborators named Inventors of the Year for successful treatment of rare disease
May 16, 2023
College of Human Medicine professor André Bachmann and two Corewell Health physicians, Caleb Bupp and Surender Rajasekaran, have been named the 2023 Inventors of the Year for their discovery of a previously unknown disease and development of an effective treatment.
Dean's Update
May 12, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
Friday evening we gather with the Student National Medical Association for the college’s annual Diversity Senior Recognition Program. We are honoring a record number of MD students at the dinner this year – the program has outgrown the Kellogg Center’s Lincoln Room, and we will be in the Big Ten A.
Marielle He: Finding a Purpose in Medicine
May 10, 2023
As a young girl in China, the thought of becoming a doctor never occurred to Marielle He. After graduation, she begins her residency in general surgery at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. He says medicine gave her a purpose and serving as a Navy physician is an important way for her to give back. Read more about Marielle's road to residency.
Nick LeMire: Continuing the Family Tradition
May 10, 2023
Nick LeMire comes from a family of doctors with a long history of serving underserved communities in the Upper Peninsula. After graduating from the UP campus, Nick will begin a residency in family medicine through the University of Washington Chelan RTT. While plans could change, Nick has an eye towards returning to the UP to start his own practice. Read more about his road to residency.
Dean's Update
May 5, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
In this dean's update, I share about some of my community experiences, including attending the Community Meeting of the Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease and the graduation presentations of ELAM (Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine) in Philadelphia. There will also be updates for the community at the Spring Faculty Meeting on May 9.
Ellie Gschwendtner: The Parallel Between Ceramics and Plastic Surgery
May 3, 2023
While studying for a bachelor’s degree in ceramics, Ellie Gschwendtner worked as an anesthesia technician. While watching a plastic surgeon work, she was intrigued by the similarities between the two fields and believes her experience in ceramics will make her a better physician. Gschwendtner is a Traverse City Campus graduate with a Leadership in Rural Medicine certificate.
Kelvin Lim: Service Through Medicine
May 1, 2023
Kelvin Lim has always been passionate about serving others. He was initially drawn to politics but found his calling in medicine after serving as a medical scribe. Lim was an emergency medical technician in Los Angeles before med school. After graduating from the College of Human Medicine’s Grand Rapids Campus, he will begin a urology residency at University of Rochester Medical Center and Strong Memorial Hospital.
Antara Afrin: Detroit native heads to Harvard and Yale
April 28, 2023
After graduation, Antara Afrin is first heading to Harvard for a pediatrics preliminary year, then a three-year dermatology residency at Yale. Her passion for serving underserved communities is fueled by her parents’ example and her Muslim faith. Read about her road to residency.
April College News Headlines
April 27, 2023
Catch up on news headlines and more updates from the college.
Kulkarni honored with HTRS Lifetime Achievement Award
April 27, 2023
The Hemostasis & Thrombosis Research Society recently presented Kulkarni, MD, a College of Human Medicine emeritus professor of Pediatrics and Human Development, with its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health to expand and strengthen community care
April 27, 2023
On a recent episode of “MSU Today with Russ White,” Dean Sousa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Ridgway White discuss the visionary partnerships and important community-based research happening within the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health.
Sejal Mehta: From Patient to Pediatrician
April 27, 2023
Sejal Mehta draws on her experience as a patient early in life to provide compassion care to her patients. After graduation, she heads to Baylor College of Medicine for a pediatric residency. Read about her road to residency.
Thomas Barker: Medicine Came Calling
April 26, 2023
Thomas Barker will carry on the family legacy of practicing medicine and community service. Read about his road to residency.
Blue Ridge ranks MSU OB-GYN #4 in NIH research funding
April 25, 2023
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology has again ranked among the top recipients of research funding from the National Institutes of Health, according to a report by the nonprofit Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
Dean's Update
April 21, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
The college and university are economic and health drivers in their communities. Community-focused donors in both Flint and Grand Rapids brought the college and hospitals together to create educational and research opportunities that continue to drive economic growth as well as health. Read about our Inventors of the Year Award and how a $15 million Mott Foundation grant will help shape those communities.
Rx Kids Program Aims to Tackle Poverty to Improve the Health of City of Flint Moms and Babies
April 20, 2023
Thanks to an intended $15 million “challenge” grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Rx Kids will be the first citywide program in the United States to address maternal and infant poverty with the novel approach of unconditional cash allowances to ALL City of Flint pregnant moms and babies.
Dean's Update
April 14, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
Over the last several years, the dean’s office and the university have benefited from an energetic and engaged group of faculty in academic governance. Our new strategic plan, our accreditation site visit, our leadership searches, faculty promotions, and our work in the larger university all depend upon engaged faculty on college and university committees.
Winners of the Annie Li Yang Student Essay Contest
April 11, 2023
Three student essays were chosen for the 2023 Annie Li Yang Student Essay Contest. First place winner was Joshua Rabotnick and his essay “Scar Tissue.” Second place winner was Taylor Lombard with her essay “Medical School: Holding Two Truths.” Third place winner was Patricio Ruano with his essay “Como Te Voy A Olvidar.”
Dean's Update
April 7, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
The reach of the College of Human Medicine continues to astonish me. I met with the leadership of the HUDA free clinic in Detroit, met with alumni who have answered the call to provide care and learned some things I'd like to share in this update.
Dean's Update
March 31, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
The LCME can be a consuming effort, but during the process, we have continued with our teaching, patient care, research, and prepared for more growth. As you know, the college has been developing new statewide departments, which will help anchor our partnership with Henry Ford and other partners.
Global genetic study shows link between endometriosis, other debilitating pain conditions
March 28, 2023
Stacey Missmer, professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology in the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, discusses a global genetic study that shows link between endometriosis, other debilitating pain conditions. Missmer is the U.S. leader of IEGC for the second phase of the study.
March College News Headlines
March 27, 2023
Catch up on news headlines and more updates from the college.
MSU scientists create start-up to develop gene therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease
March 27, 2023
A new startup, CavGene Therapeutics, Inc., will further research initiated by Kathy Steece-Collier, PhD, a professor of Translational Neuroscience in the College of Human Medicine. For decades, she has led an effort to reduce or eliminate a frequent side effect of a drug commonly prescribed for Parkinson’s patients.
Dean's Update
March 24, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
Our Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) site visitors left Grand Rapids on Wednesday after a good visit. Read more about the process and what we have to look forward to.
Orezime Uyeh: Inspiring the Next Generation of Doctors, One Book at a Time
March 20, 2023
Third-year student Rezi Uyeh, a 27-year old Nigerian American artist, combined her passion for children, health care, teaching and mentorship to write and illustrate her first book, “Girls for Medicine".
Neuroscience Fair Offers a Look Inside the Brain
March 18, 2023
The Department of Translational Neuroscience hosted the event at the Grand Rapids Public Museum where participants experienced 17 hands-on activities like performing deep brain stimulation on a gelatin brain, extracting DNA from a banana and viewing neurons under the microscope.
Match Day 2023
March 18, 2023
184 rising Spartan MDs at seven MSU College of Human Medicine community campuses statewide learned where they matched for residency this summer. 100% of the college's senior students have secured residency placements.
Dean's Update
March 17, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
This year, our students, who experienced the full brunt of the pandemic, had a great Match Day. Today, I am excited to report that our overall residency placement rate for the 2023 graduating class is 100%.
Student research program focuses on reducing health disparities
March 15, 2023
Since 2018, 37 College of Human Medicine students passionate about reducing health disparities in underserved populations have participated in the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health’s Research to Reduce Disparities in Disease (R2D2) Program.
Dean's Update
March 10, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
The college is headed into the final work before our accreditation site visit March 20-22 in Grand Rapids. Our team has sent in our updates, we are making videos of our spaces, including the new spaces in East Lansing, and the Academic Affairs team is meeting with people in preparation for each session.
Reach Out To Youth Program Builds Pathway to Medicine
March 7, 2023
This year’s MSU program on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Secchia Center was free and open to children ages 7-11 from public schools in Grand Rapids and West Michigan. The program was sponsored by the Student National Medical Association and the Urban League of West Michigan.
Dean's Update
March 3, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
Sharing our expertise with the world is a part of how we make the world better. There are many updates I'd like to share with you this week. Read more.
Black History Month Member Interview: Larry Charleston, IV, MD, MSc, FAHS
March 2, 2023
The American Neurological Association celebrated black history month and interviewed the College of Human Medicine's Larry Charleston, IV, MD, MSC, FAHS. Read the full interview.
February College News Headlines
February 28, 2023
Catch up on news headlines and more updates from the college.
Dean's Update
February 24, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
In the last two weeks, we have seen the best and worst of our society. The trauma, murder, and gun violence reflecting the most callous parts of our world has broken hearts and shaken many of us to our core. Yet our university and the communities surrounding us have responded with overwhelming support and selflessness.
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha: We’re waging war on our children. It has to stop. | Opinion
February 22, 2023 - Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
We failed our kids, again. But it is worse than a failure. It’s no exaggeration to say we are waging war on our children. A war with many fronts.
Managing the Trauma of Tragedy
February 21, 2023
Zakia Alavi, an associate professor of psychiatry in Michigan State University’s Department of Pediatrics and Human Development in the College of Human Medicine, answers questions about dealing with trauma after a tragic incident, how to deal with returning to normal routines, and how to deal with the feelings of grief, anger and fear that follow.
Message to our Spartan community
February 16, 2023
See the latest updates regarding the tragedy on campus and the dean's messages to our community.
Dean's Update
February 10, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week, the college welcomed our LCME consultants to Grand Rapids for our mock site visit. I had the pleasure to meet with the team a couple of times and appreciate their expertise and the feedback they gave us.
MSU study finds pandemic just ‘tip of the iceberg’ for causes of death in pregnant, postpartum people
February 6, 2023
Lead author Claire Margerison, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics in the MSU College of Human Medicine, finds pandemic just ‘tip of the iceberg’ for causes of death in pregnant, postpartum people.
Dean's Update
February 3, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
The struggles of our society will not be solved by one group of people or one institution, but we can improve the lives of those with whom we work.
January College News Headlines
January 30, 2023
Catch up on news headlines and more updates from the college.
David Klee, MD, named Community Assistant Dean in Traverse City
January 30, 2023
David Klee, MD, has been appointed community assistant dean, following the retirement of Dan Webster, MD, founding dean for the Traverse City Campus. Klee is a family medicine physician with a history of working with students and residents. While he’s always had a strong interest in teaching, it also was the lure of the college’s rural health education program that drew him.
Dean's Update
January 27, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
Some things feel just too big for one of us or seem too big even for a majority of us. On the other hand, each day is a chance to help someone in need.
"Just Breathe" podcast connects through shared vulnerability
January 26, 2023
Third-year College of Human Medicine student Michael Knox started his podcast “Just Breathe Collective” in 2021 with the intention of connecting with others through shared vulnerability. He has since produced seven episodes and plans to continue it throughout his medical career. We interviewed Michael to learn more about his podcast and what the future holds.
Ferreira’s lab explores rare isotopes to detect and stop cancer at the cellular level
January 25, 2023
Carolina de Aguiar Ferreira, an assistant professor in the Colleges of Human Medicine and Engineering, is opening her own lab to study promising new therapies that hunt down cancer cells and kill them with radioactive isotopes.
Epidemiologist and physician Nigel Paneth retires after nearly five decades of service
January 24, 2023
After nearly five decades as a pediatrician and an epidemiologist specialized in studying the causes and prevention of neurodevelopmental disabilities in infants, Nigel Paneth retired – sort of.
Dean's Update
January 20, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
The College of Human Medicine’s Strategic Plan includes a goal to increase the public intellectual work available to our staff, students, and faculty. Specifically, we have a goal to support career growth and development of our people, and one of the strategies is to support and build capacity of our staff and faculty to do public intellectual work.
Words of Wellness: An Antidote for Despair
January 19, 2023 - Claudia Finkelstein, MDCM
This is the season when we begin to notice the return of the light, when we notice that our resolutions have faded or taken hold. It’s the season when the excitement and stress of holiday expectations are behind us. It’s the season when the fields are fallow.
Graduate voice: Iranian-American identity and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement
January 18, 2023
Yasi Zamani-Hank is a graduate of Michigan State University who recently earned her doctorate in epidemiology. She is currently completing her postdoctoral research in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at MSU. Her research focuses on understanding the social determinants of racial and socioeconomic disparities in adverse birth outcomes and the role of adverse life experiences on women’s health.
New model offers powerful tool for studying endometrial cancer
January 17, 2023
A new laboratory model will better enable scientists to study the development of endometrial cancer, the most common gynecological cancer in the U.S.
Dean's Update
January 13, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is this coming Monday. As part of the community’s celebration, Fred Gray is the featured guest at the 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan’s event at the Lansing Center this Monday.
In Memoriam of Kate Lax | 1984 - 2023
January 12, 2023
Kate Lax, the college's former associate director of development, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2023, at the age of 38. She was a friend to many and a ray of sunshine to all. A bridge to donors and colleagues, Kate’s legacy will live on at the College of Human Medicine and at Michigan State University forever, through the students, alumni, and faculty she was so passionate and dedicated to serving.
Ask the expert: What are nanomedicines?
January 12, 2023
Michigan State University researcher Morteza Mahmoudi studies factors impeding the development of very promising and extremely tiny diagnostics and therapeutics known as nanomedicines.
Dean's Update
January 6, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
The last year ended with a flurry of activity: approval of the college’s strategic plan, submission of the LCME materials, approval of the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, and CAC approval of six new departments. The new year will bring implementation of the strategic plan, the LCME accreditation survey team visit, and new opportunities for hope and inspiration.