News
Read the latest edition of the college newsletter Med News.
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.
Research Grants
March 30, 2023
The latest research grants awarded to faculty at the College of Human Medicine.
Published Research
March 28, 2023
The latest published research from College of Human Medicine faculty.
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.
Dean's Update
December 16, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
This has been a big week - the Michigan State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the creation of the Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health in the College of Human Medicine, the college adopted the College of Human Medicine Strategic Plan, and I’ve had a series of meetings about the Sparrow-UM announcement.
Dean's Update
December 16, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Many of you have heard about the recently announced Michigan Medicine takeover of Sparrow Health System. Not everything that happens with a hospital is about clinical care. In most of our communities, hospitals have become major employers and economic engines. We must acknowledge the importance of thriving hospitals in our community where our students learn, our faculty practice, and our people receive essential health care services. Regardless of hospital ownership, our students, residents, and faculty will continue as stalwart, essential members of the Lansing community, improving care, ensuring local access, and saving lives.
MSU’s new Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health to expand and strengthen community care
December 16, 2022 - Nardy Baeza Bickel and Geri Kelley
For years, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine researchers in the Division of Public Health have been working with Flint community partners. Now, the university is creating its first fully philanthropically named department in recognition of this long-term support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
DeLano Named Chair of Radiology
December 15, 2022
After a nationwide search, the College of Human Medicine found the best person to chair the Department of Radiology was within its own faculty. Mark DeLano, MD, FACR, a lifelong Spartan, recently was appointed chair of the Department of Radiology, which serves the College of Human Medicine and the College of Osteopathic Medicine. DeLano graduated from MSU’s Lyman Briggs College and the College of Human Medicine.
Race or Racism? Researchers Study Racial Disparities in Neurological Diseases
December 15, 2022
While Black Americans suffer a disproportionate number of neurological diseases and resultant deaths, the reason is not due to biological differences in the races but to racism, a recent article coauthored by a College of Human Medicine professor concluded.
November & December College News Headlines
December 14, 2022
Catch up on headlines and updates from the college.
Making an Impact More Than Skin Deep
December 14, 2022
Second-year medical student Christina Druskovich and third-year medical student Aldana Garcia start MSU chapter of Sun Protection Outreach Teaching Students (SPOTS) to teach local high school and middle school students about skin cancer and sun protection.
Published Research
December 13, 2022
The latest published research from College of Human Medicine faculty.
Research Grants
December 13, 2022
The latest grants and research funding awarded to College of Human Medicine faculty.
Dean's Update
December 9, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Many of you have heard about the recently announced Michigan Medicine takeover of Sparrow Health System. Not everything that happens with a hospital is about clinical care. In most of our communities, hospitals have become major employers and economic engines. We must acknowledge the importance of thriving hospitals in our community where our students learn, our faculty practice, and our people receive essential health care services. Regardless of hospital ownership, our students, residents, and faculty will continue as stalwart, essential members of the Lansing community, improving care, ensuring local access, and saving lives.
Dean's Update
December 2, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
As a college we have been a national leader in community-based education; indeed, we were the first medical school accredited as a community-based medical school. It’s always a pleasure to visit our community campuses, and this week I had the joy of visiting our Midland Regional Campus.
Fall 2022 Faculty Awards
December 1, 2022
Congratulations to the recipients of the College of Human Medicine's 2022 Faculty Awards! Among those honored was Jack Lipton, PhD, who received the Lester J. Evans, MD, Distinguished Service Award.
AOA Inductees
November 30, 2022
Congratulations to the students, residents, faculty and alumni inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Gamma Chapter.
Dean's Update
November 18, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
In today’s Town Hall, I overviewed the whole strategic plan and wanted to talk more in depth about the The Student Success pillar. The Student Success pillar begins with a very general overarching goal: Ensure that all students graduate satisfied with their education, with a lower debt burden, and prepared to enter a variety of health and medical careers. Then, we continue into more specific goals and strategies. As you read those goals and strategies, I want to be clear that these are goals and strategies for all students and programs unless they are specifically directed toward one program.
Rural Medicine Student Spotlight: Sydney Brief
November 17, 2022
Sydney Brief's time as an undergrad at Michigan State University, along with her life experiences, interests and goals set Brief on a path to joining the College of Human Medicine’s Leadership in Rural Medicine program.
Dean's Update
November 11, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
The strategic planning task force has been working on our major goals and strategies since last spring. Not every goal or area of scholarship can be in a strategic plan, but a good plan helps focus the college and guides important changes in how we implement projects and use our resources. One key goal area is “staff and faculty success". Our goals build on the university’s plan, and you can read from the specific goals and strategies below that our focus is on the people of the college.
Dean's Update
November 4, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Over the next few weeks, we will complete the last draft of the college’s new strategic plan. In brief, the plan has nine strategic goals across four main areas: Student Success, Faculty and Staff Success, Healthy Communities, and Research and Scholarship. Those nine goals also create two main themes across the four main areas: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and Improving Health Equity.
MSU pediatric infectious disease expert discusses RSV, flu, COVID-19 in children
November 3, 2022
Rebecca Schein, MD, discusses how this RSV season compares to other years and how both the flu and the COVID-19 pandemic might have affected the virus’ infection trends.
October College News Headlines
October 31, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
Gossain Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
October 31, 2022
Ved Gossain, MD, has had a prolific and distinguished career, including 47 years on the College of Human Medicine faculty and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Physicians Michigan Chapter.
Rayamajhi Receives Early Career Physician Award
October 31, 2022
The American College of Physicians Michigan Chapter recently presented Supratik Rayamajhi, MD, the 2022 Raymond Murray Governor’s Award for an Early Career Physician for his contributions to medicine.
Laird-Fick Receives Laureate Award
October 31, 2022
The American College of Physicians Michigan Chapter honored Heather Laird-Fick, MD (CHM '97), with the Laureate Award for her dedication to patient care, research, and medical education.
Bouknight Receives Laureate Award
October 31, 2022
Reynard Bouknight, MD, PhD, (CHM '75) received the Laureate Award during the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians Michigan Chapter in honor of his commitment to excellence in medical care, education, or research and in service to the community.
Dean's Update
October 28, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
I am pleased to announce that Jack Lipton, PhD, chair of the Department of Translational Neurosciences has been awarded the Lester J. Evans, MD, College of Human Medicine Distinguished Service Award for 2022. This is an award for lifetime achievement and service to the College of Human Medicine and is the college’s highest award.
Dean's Update
October 21, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Let me encourage you to vote. Whatever your political point of view, this is an important election...So, get registered, get educated and do your civic duty and vote. We need an active citizenry in this country.
MSU Academic Governance Update from Dr. Karen Kelly-Blake
October 20, 2022
Current events have been deflating for many of us, and I write today to assure you that no matter how this situation unfolds, the Faculty Senate leadership is resolved to engage in the hard and necessary work of academic governance—defending academic freedom, pushing for greater transparency, and ensuring that MSU upholds its mission.
Can Belly Fat Promote Breast Cancer?
October 19, 2022
The link between obesity and cancer has been known for about 20 years. Jamie Bernard, a College of Human Medicine associate professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, is studying exactly how obesity contributes to breast cancer and what can be done to prevent it.
Dean's Update
October 14, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week, I visited Petoskey and Traverse City. Our merry band of me, Jerry Kooiman, Andrea Wendling, MD, and Stephanie Stotenbur, met with donors, hospital partners, researchers, clerkship directors, campus staff, community partners, and alumni. I always learn about our communities when I visit, but this time the visit changed my brain in important ways.
Dean's Update
October 7, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Engaging with Hispanic communities is an essential part of our work. We are a community-based medical and public health school and always will be. Connecting to community is core to our educational programs and anchors more and more of our research.
Vega ‘Pays It Forward’ Mentoring Hispanic Students Exploring Neuroscience Research Careers
October 7, 2022
Since January, Irving Vega, PhD, has taken on additional responsibilities as the director of a program at MSU to increase diversity in the neurosciences, much like one at the University of Puerto Rico that encouraged and helped him keep studying toward a research career.
September College News Headlines
September 30, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
In Memoriam: Margaret Thompson, MD
September 29, 2022
Margaret "Peggy" Elizabeth Thompson, MD, age 63, passed away on September 24, 2022. Dr. Thompson was an integral part of the college since 1990 when she began teaching. She served as lead clerkship director for the family medicine clerkship, was instrumental in the expansion of the College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids and served as the community associate dean of the Grand Rapids campus for ten years.
Advocating for Gender Equity in Medicine
September 29, 2022
In honor of Women in Medicine Month, the College of Human Medicine celebrates alumna Shikha Jain, MD. She is a renowned oncologist, advocate for gender parity in medical professions, founder of the Women in Medicine Summit and was recently named one of Medscape's Rising Stars in Medicine.
Kulkarni Received Eternal Spirit Award for Career in Blood Disorders
September 28, 2022
In honor of Women in Medicine Month, the College of Human Medicine celebrates Roshni Kulkarni, MD, emeritus professor of Pediatrics and Human Development and emeritus director of the MSU Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders. She has dedicated her career to the research, advocacy, and treatment of patients suffering with blood disorders.
Improper Folds in Uterus Can Result in Miscarriage
September 27, 2022
In honor of Women in Medicine Month, the College of Human Medicine celebrates Ripla Arora, PhD, assistant professor, who recently received a $1.98 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how changes in levels of the hormone progesterone affect the folds in the uterus, making it either receptive or unfavorable to pregnancy.
Working to Make Changes to the Health Care System
September 24, 2022
In honor of Women in Medicine Month, the College of Human Medicine celebrates Donna Tran, a third-year medical student, National President of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association and Medical Student Representative of the Association for College Psychiatry. In May, she graduated with a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She recently completed an internship with the U.S. Senate HELP Committee and the Maryland Department of Health.
Dean's Update
September 23, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Big week. Big alumni week. Today, I had the remarkable pleasure to join about 70 alumni for an in-person Dean’s Town Hall. I had so much fun with the alumni on the panel, in the room, and our friends online. That said, I am not ready to be a TV host.
MSU brings better cancer diagnosis and treatment to Michigan
September 21, 2022
Doug Meijer’s own cancer journey inspired him to support the MSU College of Human Medicine’s mission, by bringing the world’s most advanced medical technology to MSU for cancer treatment.
Dean's Update
September 16, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Courage comes in many forms and from many people, and recently, we have witnessed remarkable courage from many of our colleagues.
Get to Know: Seraphima Sidhom
September 14, 2022
Our "Get to Know" series introduces a few our incoming students. Meet Seraphima Sidhom! She just completed a master’s degree and finished a thesis at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Get to Know: Richard Nguyen
September 14, 2022
Our "Get to Know" series introduces a few our incoming students. Meet Richard Nguyen, a Hufflepuff who loves interacting with new people from different backgrounds.
Get to Know: Maria Cielito Robles
September 14, 2022
Our "Get to Know" series introduces several first-year medical students as the college welcomes the Incoming Class of 2022! Meet Maria Cielito Robles, a commissioned officer in the Navy Medical Corps.
Get to Know: Laila Sareini
September 14, 2022
Our "Get to Know" series introduces several first-year medical students as the college welcomes the Incoming Class of 2022! Meet Laila Sareini. She enjoys the great outdoors and cooking traditional Lebanese dishes.
Get to Know: Joseph Mariscal
September 14, 2022
Our "Get to Know" series introduces several first-year medical students as the college welcomes the Incoming Class of 2022! Meet Joseph Mariscal, husband, father, musician and Rubik's cube wiz.
Get to Know: Monica Hill
September 14, 2022
Our "Get to Know" series introduces a few our incoming students. Meet Monica Hill, plant mom who loves to travel and kayak. She discusses her experience with the ABLE program.
Dean's Update
September 9, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
I am submitting a series of proposals for new departments in the college to the College Advisory Committee, the college’s committee for faculty academic governance. These new departments are exciting because they expand opportunities for the university’s students and faculty and fill out a group of disciplines not currently in the college.
Words of Wellness: Silence
September 6, 2022 - Sabrina Ford, PhD
Have we found the time to capture that true solace that allows us to regenerate and recuperate? Have you been soaking up sunbeams that metabolize Vitamin D and rejuvenate our energy levels? There is still time to find the stillness and quietness that is a necessary practice of the art of well-being.
Dean's Update
September 2, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
If, at some point in your career, you get the chance to run a medical school, one of the fun parts of the job will be meeting the people who make your school special. Now that summer has begun to give us the slip, I’ve started a bit of a “meet the new dean” tour of campuses and one-on-one meetings.
Welcome Class of 2026
August 31, 2022
See highlights from the annual Matriculation and White Coat Ceremony. The event marked the symbolic beginning of the journey into the medical profession for our new students. Congratulations!
More Medical Education Research Needed on Patient-Centered Outcomes
August 31, 2022
Medical education, particularly at the College of Human Medicine, has increasingly focused on patient-centered outcomes in training students. A study co-authored by Matthew Emery, MD, finds more research focused on patient-centered outcomes is needed.
Vega Honored with Red Cedar Distinguished Faculty Award
August 30, 2022
Irving Vega, PhD, was named Red Cedar Distinguished Faculty for his research in Alzheimer's disease and engagement with the community.
New Program Honors Effective Teachers and Rekindles Joy in Education
August 30, 2022
In a movement to elevate a culture where teaching is joyful, valued and recognized, Randi Stanulis, PhD, shares plans for this year’s Finding Joy In Teaching honorific program.
August College News Headlines
August 29, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
Basil Abdo Named Community Assistant Dean of Southeast Michigan Campus
August 27, 2022
Abdo is a family physician, clinical associate professor, clerkship director for family medicine, and associate chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Ascension-Providence Hospital in Southfield. In May, he took on more responsibilities as the new community assistant dean for the college’s Southeast Michigan campus.
Alumnus David Buzanoski Becomes Midland Community Assistant Dean
August 27, 2022
On July 1, David Buzanoski became the Community Assistant Dean of the Midland Regional Campus. After graduating from the college in 2011, Buzanoski completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics in his native Maine. Since returning to Michigan, he has mentored many medical students, and this year he received the Outstanding Community Faculty award.
Dean's Update
August 26, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Over the last several months, I have worked with the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Diversity (DACD) to create a new program to hire or support faculty who will expand the college’s scholarship in topics relevant to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice...We are calling this effort the 1964 Project.
In Memoriam: E. James Potchen, MD, JD
August 25, 2022
E. James Potchen, MD, JD, Michigan State University Distinguished Professor and inaugural chair of the MSU Radiology Department, passed away August 20, 2022, at the age of 89.
In Memoriam: John Hickner, MD, MSc
August 25, 2022
John M. Hickner, MD, MSc, long-time College of Human Medicine faculty member, died peacefully in his home in Escanaba on August 22, 2022, at the age of 72.
Dean's Update
August 12, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
This has been a big week for the college’s strategic planning effort. After months of meetings on Zoom, the Strategic Planning Task Force and its workgroups met in person for the first time in the whole process. I understand there were hugs.
'Michigan Model' National Pilot Program to Help Curb Acts of Mass Violence
August 11, 2022
Michigan State University’s Department of Psychiatry is launching a pilot program – with a $15 million grant from the state of Michigan – to help curb acts of violence and spare families from unthinkable trauma before it’s too late.
MSU Scientists Use Artificial Intelligence to Find New Uses for Drugs in Treating Diseases
August 10, 2022
A team of Michigan State University researchers, led by Bin Chen, PhD, has received a $1.7 million federal grant to speed up the search for new drugs in the fight against a range of diseases by using artificial intelligence.
Michael Brown to Become Next University Physician
August 8, 2022
Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., today appointed Michael Brown, M.D., to be the next university physician. Brown will begin his new role on Aug. 15.
Dean's Update
August 5, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
I have a series of announcements for this week, and since I am down with COVID, there will be no pleonasm. The week’s big news is our new relationship with Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) and Srinivas Kavuturu, MD, will be the interim chair of our surgery department.
MSU College of Human Medicine signs articulation agreement with Bay Mills Community College
August 3, 2022
Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) premedical students who transfer to Lake Superior State University (LSSU) will have an enhanced opportunity for early admission to the MSU College of Human Medicine under an agreement signed Wednesday.
Dean's Update
July 29, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
We are getting very close to the beginning of our fall semester. And we have some exciting and unusual events coming up. The first event comprises of two white coat ceremonies on August 20 in Grand Rapids.
July College News Headlines
July 28, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
Lifelong Medical Educator Dianne Wagner Retires
July 28, 2022
Dianne Wagner, MD, served as interim senior associate dean for academic affairs from November 2019 until March 2022 and retired as associate dean for undergraduate medical education on June 1.
Dr. Ryan Thomas' Career in Pulmonology Comes Full Circle
July 28, 2022
Dr. Ryan Thomas' career in pulmonology came full circle when he received a teaching award named after the pediatrician who saved his life during an asthma attack as a child.
Barbara Forney Retires After 24 Years of Service
July 28, 2022
On June 6, Barbara Forney official retired after serving in several university roles, including associate dean for administration in the College of Human Medicine.
Dean's Update
July 22, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
The college’s strategic planning work is picking up speed as a series of workgroups are meeting to create and prioritize goals and strategies. The topics of these work groups include diversity, equity, and inclusion; finance; organizational culture; reputation; the college’s identity; whether the college should take on a grand challenge; advancing discovery; clinical care; community partnerships; education; and faculty, student, and staff success.
Women With Endometriosis May Have Higher Risk of Stroke
July 21, 2022
Research by Stacey Missmer, ScD, professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology, finds that women with endometriosis may have higher risk of stroke.
Dean's Update
July 15, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Those of you who follow this space know that I have been on the internal medicine service at Sparrow Hospital since the new residents started on July 1. I have had a great time, and the residents and students have done great work for the patients.
Dean's Update
July 8, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week has been particularly busy for me, so my update was going to be short and mostly news. I can already hear sounds of relief from some of you, but while it is all news, brevity escaped my mastery. So on to the news.
Michigan State University Welcomes Perrigo North America to Innovation Park
July 6, 2022
The new Perrigo corporate headquarters located at MSU's Innovation Park will bring over 150 jobs to Grand Rapids.
Dean's Update
July 1, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Today is July 1, the starting date for residencies and residents across the country. It’s a big day for the profession, and a bigger day for the new residents. Almost everyone I know has some story about their first day as a resident. I’ll share one of my own...
June College News Headlines
June 30, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
Words of Wellness: Transitions
June 30, 2022 - Sabrina Ford, PhD
When I chose the topic, I hadn’t remembered that Claudia wrote something very similar exactly one year ago. However, it is still important to acknowledge and contemplate the significance of transitions. Let’s take a short pause, in this moment, to consider how transitions affect us and how to embrace them.
Study Finds Multiple Brain Regions Associated with Abdominal Pain in Children
June 29, 2022
A study by Natoshia Cunningham, PhD, finds that children experiencing functional abdominal pain (FAD) disorders have enhanced connectivity between the amygdala, a region implicated in emotional processing, and multiple brain regions associated with pain and cognition.
Can Poor Sense of Smell in Older Adults Lead to Chronic Diseases?
June 28, 2022
The National Institute on Aging recently awarded Honglei Chen, MD, PhD, a $2.7 million grant to study what adverse health outcomes might be foreshadowed by a poor sense of smell.
A Passion for Pediatric Plastic Surgery
June 28, 2022
One case during Darin Patmon's plastic surgery rotation – a child suffering from multiple facial fractures from an accident – solidified his future in the field and led to his passion for research.
In Memoriam: Shirley Siew, MD, PhD
June 27, 2022
In Memoriam: Shirley Siew, MD, PhD, passed away peacefully after a short illness, Thursday, June 16, 2022.
Dean's Update
June 24, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court released its opinion reversing the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had made abortion legal, if not universally accessible, in the U.S. The new ruling makes the legality of abortion an issue of state law, and for Michigan revives a 1931 law that prohibits abortion.
Gold Humanism Honor Society Welcomes New Inductees
June 23, 2022
Congratulations to honor society's newest members! Watch the induction ceremony held on June 21.
A Targeted and Personalized Approach to Fighting Cancer
June 22, 2022 - MSUToday
Q&A with biomedical engineer Kurt Zinn.
Ask The Expert: MSU Doctor Answers Questions About The COVID-19 Vaccine for Children
June 21, 2022 - MSUToday
Rebecca Schein, MD, answers questions about the new FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine for children under age 5.
Nicoletti's Dx:Q Educates Others on Queer Health Topics
June 13, 2022
Fourth-year medical student Nick Nicoletti recently founded Dx:Q, an organization to increase LGBTQ visibility and understanding among patients, health care providers, and medical educators.
May College News Headlines
May 31, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
Bioethics Faculty Address Structural Racism in Health Care Settings
May 31, 2022
Jennifer McCurdy was a task force member of a recent report calling on the field of bioethics to take the lead in addressing the structural racism that causes inequality in health care. The report, “A Critical Moment in Bioethics: Reckoning with Anti-Black Racism Through Intergenerational Dialogue,” is a collection of essays produced by The Hastings Center.
Celebrating the Class of 2022
May 31, 2022
Congratulations to our newest class of Spartan MDs! Watch highlights from our Commencement Ceremony, see photos from our graduates and check out some fun facts about the Class of 2022 in our graduation recap.
Artificial Intelligence Biased Against People with Mental Illness
May 30, 2022
The increasing use of a technology called emotion artificial intelligence could lead to discrimination against people with mental illnesses, particularly in employment, a report led by Scott Monteith, MD, warns.
Dean's Update
May 27, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
The epidemic of gun violence in this country is a public health and medical crisis, and we need to think about it in those terms, if we are going to make a safer, freer, and more healthy country.
Wendling named Interim Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
May 27, 2022
Andrea Wendling, MD, a longtime professor of family medicine, has been named the College of Human Medicine’s interim senior associate dean for academic affairs.
Schafer Awarded Scholarship Recognizing Contributions of Graduate Students with Disabilities
May 27, 2022
College of Human Medicine student Christa Schafer is the 2022 Robert L. Decker & Benjamin Muns Friendship Memorial Scholarship recipient, meant to recognize contributions of graduate students with disabilities.
Pregnancy-Associated Deaths Due to Drug Use, Suicide and Homicide Increase
May 26, 2022
Drug use, suicide, and homicide accounted for more than one-fifth of all pregnancy-associated deaths in the United States during a recent 10-year period, Michigan State University researchers found.
Dean's Update
May 20, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
It would be easy to see current events as beyond our scope and a distraction from caring for patients, educating the health-related workforce, making discoveries, and doing scholarship. But I think we need to be of our world. We are a college where people work, study, and are treated, and we need to have a culture of being engaged in the world.
Words of Wellness: Passing the Torch
May 19, 2022 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
Many of you are already aware of the fact that my role at the college has changed. I retired, and then much like Tom Brady, have already partially come out of retirement. I am passing the torch while still available for faculty & staff support.
Dean's Update
May 13, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Summer feels like it has come to Michigan, but no one seems to have told our main respiratory virus that this is not its season. For those of you keeping track, COVID-19 is on the rise in our communities.
PET Scanner Arrives at Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Center
May 9, 2022
Michigan's first total body PET/CT scanner has arrived at the Michigan State University Radiopharmacy in the Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building.
Dean's Update
May 6, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Welcome to graduation season, the best season of the academic year! This weekend, the university celebrates the graduation of undergraduates and graduate students. Our MPH, MA, and MS students had a chance to walk this morning, and the PhD students walk in the afternoon. It is always a wonderful day.
Kenechukwu Isi: It's Medicine or Bust
May 5, 2022
Kene Isi’s path to becoming a physician might have been set the moment he was born. He wasn’t breathing and doctors and nurses struggled for nine minutes to save him before he took his first breath. A doctor who cared for him while he was critically ill with malaria inspired him to pursue a career in medicine.
Inaugural "Finding Joy in Teaching" Reception Celebrates Faculty
May 5, 2022
To celebrate the launch of "Finding Joy in Teaching," a special reception honored several faculty for their excellence in medical education.
Karrar Aljiboori: Cool, Calm and Collected
May 4, 2022
Just surviving was a daily struggle in Baghdad, Iraq, where Karrar Aljiboori was raised. The idea that he could graduate from medical school, become a doctor with an eye toward becoming a neurosurgeon might seem beyond reach. But the extreme hardship didn't discouraging him, it strengthened his resolve.
In Memoriam: Roy Gerard, MD
May 2, 2022
Roy J. Gerard, MD, founding chair of the Department of Family Medicine, died April 17.
Dean's Update
April 29, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Those of you tracking the MSU 2030 strategic plan will know that EVP Beauchamp is the executive sponsor for the Sustainable Health pillar of the MSU plan. Our college will be deeply interested in the implementation of all pillars of the plan, but Sustainable Health is pretty obviously in our wheelhouse.
April College News Headlines
April 29, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
Dr. Lipscomb Receives Equity Champion Award
April 29, 2022
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) presented Wanda Lipscomb, PhD, with an Equity Champion Award in recognition of her many contributions to diversifying the medical professions and promoting equal health care for all.
Samuel Surgalski: Military and Medicine
April 29, 2022
Samuel Surgalski always knew he was going to join the Navy. His mother's career as a nurse inspired him to combine the military with medicine. Upon graduation, he will be commissioned as a lieutenant and begin his anesthesiology residency at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
A Dose of Inspiration
April 29, 2022
Several experiences led Alyssa Abdelnour and Pedro Castellanos, both entering their third year in the College of Human Medicine, to develop a program introducing underserved middle school students to careers in health care.
Allison Hoppe: Finding Purpose in Medicine
April 28, 2022
After two heartbreaking events, Allison Hoppe struggled to find meaning in her life. But after traveling abroad, she found purpose in medicine.
"Say His Name! Patrick!"
April 28, 2022
On April 15, 2022, College of Human Medicine students organized the White Coats for Black Lives: Justice for Patrick Lyoya march to stand by their friends and colleagues and to advocate for a more just and equitable future for all.
Sunny Panh: An Advocate for the Community
April 27, 2022
Through the traumas his family experienced in Cambodia, Sunny Panh sees his role as more than just a doctor. He serves as a community organizer and social justice advocate to help heal his community.
Axucillia Moyo: It Takes a Village to Raise a Doctor
April 27, 2022
Growing up in Zimbabwe, Axucillia Moyo saw first-hand the inequality in health care and the positive impact a little compassion can have. She sees becoming a doctor as an achievement for her whole family.
Chinchilla Receives Excellence in Public Health Award
April 27, 2022
Jennifer Chinchilla has been presented a 2022 Excellence in Public Health Award by the United States Public Health Service. The award recognizes medical students who advance public health and who exemplify the health service’s mission to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation.
Joshua Cole: From Computer Programmer to Doctor
April 26, 2022
Joshua Cole was struck by the homelessness, the poverty, and the inequity he saw around him living in San Francisco. After years working as a computer programmer, he went to medical school so he could make a bigger difference in helping others.
Research Engagement: Recruiting Pregnant Women of Color
April 26, 2022
When it comes to medical studies, researchers often face a challenge: recruiting enough people of color to make their findings valid across different ethnic groups. Sarah Vaughan, PhD, recently identified several strategies for engaging more African American women in research.
Kendall Stevens: There's No Backup Plan
April 25, 2022
Kendall Stevens concedes she never had a backup plan. As long as she can remember, she wanted to be a doctor. Now, as she is about to graduate and begin a three-year emergency medicine residency, she can say she chose the right profession, even without a plan B.
Winners of the Annie Li Yang Student Essay Contest
April 25, 2022
Three student essays were chosen for the 2022 Annie Li Yang Student Essay Contest. Momin Samad won first prize for his essay “Efficient Humanity.” Second prize was awarded to Eliza Burr for the essay “In the In-Between, Finding the Humanity in Medicine” and third place to Daniel Brown for his essay “Vertigo.”
Dean's Update
April 22, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Last week, about 75 College of Human Medicine students participated in the student led ‘White Coats for Black Lives’ march in Grand Rapids. They and a group of faculty walked from the Secchia Center to the Rosa Parks Circle statue in response to the shooting death of Patrick Lyoya.
Sousa Appointed Dean of the College of Human Medicine
April 22, 2022
The Michigan State University Board of Trustees today approved the appointment of Aron Sousa, MD, FACP, to serve as dean of the MSU College of Human Medicine.
Achtyes Named Physician of the Year
April 19, 2022
Eric Achtyes, director of the College of Human Medicine’s Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, was named 2022 physician of the year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Michigan Chapter.
Dean's Update
April 14, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Events like the death of Mr. Lyoya can affect us no matter where they happen, but this killing happened in one of our communities. It matters because we will care for the people around him, and because we live and work here. It is our community, and we have a responsibility to make our part of society more just, less racist, more peaceful, more loving. Better.
Dean's Update
April 8, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
I have had a classic pre-COVID-19 deanly week complete with in-person meetings, four campuses, some dreary weather, and a celebration or two.
Dean's Update
April 1, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Late last week, I had the pleasure of signing my letter of offer for the deanship at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. By now, you all know how special I think the college is.
Highlights from Match Day
March 31, 2022
Congratulations to our fourth-year students on a successful Match! This year, 97.6% of students received residency placements through all pathways, with 45.2% remaining in Michigan for their residencies. See the highlights from this year's Match.
March College News Headlines
March 31, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
Words of Wellness: Transitions
March 31, 2022 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
You will notice that this March edition of the Culture of Caring newsletter is arriving at the last minute. Why? Because the topic has flip flopped as the month has passed. It ranged from goodbye to anticipation, and now, to the concept of transparency, goodbye and anticipation all rolled into one newsletter.
Art and Medicine: An Open Heart Heals
March 30, 2022
Third-year student Pallavi Prabhu has been practicing and performing the classical Indian dance form called Bharatanatyam since she was 5 years old. She talks about the impact this artform had on her personal life and medical training.
Tech Tool Tracks Nutrition in High-Risk Pregnant Women
March 30, 2022
What a pregnant woman eats can affect not only her health, but the long-term health of her child. That is why a new study led by Jean Kerver, PhD, aims to help high-risk pregnant women make healthier choices, including eating more fruits and vegetables.
Eileen Hug Named Community Assistant Dean of New Detroit Campus
March 30, 2022
After 25 years of caring for patients while teaching students, Eileen Hug, DO, has been appointed community assistant dean for the College of Human Medicine’s Detroit campus based at Henry Ford Hospital. Later this summer, 20 third-year students will begin their clinical rotations at Henry Ford.
In Memoriam: Steven Almany, MD
March 29, 2022
Steven Almany, MD (CHM ’84), of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., passed away peacefully on March 17, 2022, after a prolonged illness.
Reproductive Health Researchers Among World’s Elite
March 28, 2022
Michigan State University is emerging as a leading institution in reproductive health research as indicated by the number of its faculty members who are ranked among the world’s top fertility experts.
Dean's Update
March 25, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Late last week, I had the pleasure of signing my letter of offer for the deanship at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. By now, you all know how special I think the college is.
Aron Sousa Recommended as Dean of College of Human Medicine
March 22, 2022
Aron Sousa, MD, has been recommended to serve as dean of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He has served as the interim dean for the college since October 25, 2019. If approved by the MSU Board of Trustees, the appointment will be effective April 22, 2022.
Dean's Update
March 18, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Today is Match Day! This year I am confident we have a very large number of very happy people...this year 97.6% of our students matched, and that is excellent.
Lisa Lowery, MD, MPH, Named One of West Michigan's Most Influential Women
March 17, 2022
Lisa Lowery, MD, MPH, assistant dean for Diversity and Cultural Initiatives, has been selected as one of West Michigan's 50 Most Influential Women by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Beyond her work with patients and students, Dr. Lowery says her contributions are all about community.
Study Indicates COVID-19 Patients Fall into Two Main Groups Benefiting from Two Types of Therapies
March 17, 2022
A COVID-19 study by Spectrum Health, Michigan State University and six other organizations highlight the importance of precision medicine.
Faculty Voice: I Love You—Always the Last Words
March 16, 2022
Cara Anne Poland, MD, assistant professor, shares a personal essay about loss and self care in this week's issue of JAMA.
Dean's Update
March 11, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
I know this is a very difficult time for our people with connections to Ukraine and the surrounding region. Equally, this is difficult for all with loved ones in harm’s way around the globe, even, or especially, if those conflicts have not resulted in the kind of media and social notice as the war in Ukraine has received.
MSU and Spectrum Health Collaborate on Research Project to Sequence SARS-CoV-2 Virus
March 11, 2022
Spectrum Health and MSU will work together to collect and analyze genomic data to address emerging infectious disease threats and enhance the state of Michigan’s ability to respond to them.
Support Future Spartan MDs on Give Green Day
March 8, 2022
Future Spartan MDs are real-life heroes. These heroes don't wear capes—they wear white coats—and on Tuesday, March 15, they need your help.
Dean's Update
March 4, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
I had a chance to drop in on one of the two ECE poster sessions this week, and I really enjoyed myself. I got a tour of several posters, and I came away impressed and delighted. Our first-year students made an impressive contribution toward improving clinical care in the greater Grand Rapids and Lansing communities.
Study Finds Link Between Cholesterol Crystals and Heart Infections
February 28, 2022
A study led by George Abela, MD, is the first to establish a link between the formation of cholesterol crystals and bacterial infections in the heart.
February College News Headlines
February 28, 2022
Read more news headlines and updates from the college this month.
Dean's Update
February 25, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
As I write, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has commenced and is playing out in video before our eyes. It is frightening, surreal, and deeply disturbing. The tragedies for the people of Ukraine must be first in our thoughts. Geographically but not emotionally distanced from this madness, we have students, staff, and faculty with loved ones in harm’s way. And, if we can be of help to you, by all means reach out to any of us.
SNMA Students Celebrate Black History Month
February 25, 2022
In honor of Black History Month, students in the college's Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter shared their thoughts on the annual event and interviews with Black physicians, faculty and administrators throughout the college.
College of Human Medicine Students Earn Important Designations at LMSA Midwest Regional Conference
February 24, 2022
Current College of Human Medicine students enjoyed a recent trip to Chicago for the 2022 Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) Midwest Regional Conference, earning several important designations.
Dean's Update
February 18, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Dianne Wagner, MD, has announced her retirement date of June 1, 2022. She is not going anywhere for a while, but our college will have to make some decisions in the nearer term. In the meantime, give her a shout-out and a thank you for all she has done for patients, the college, and the profession.
Words of Wellness: Enjoy the Journey
February 18, 2022 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
If you have been reading the Culture of Caring newsletters, you may be aware that in the pursuit of chasing away the winter doldrums, I signed up for two winter activities: the Groundhog Day half marathon and the Muskegon luge.
Fighting COVID and Future Diseases
February 16, 2022
Several College of Human Medicine researchers received grants from the state and CDC to bolster the Michigan’s fight against COVID, foodborne illnesses and more.
Study Could Help Predict a Deadly Pregnancy Complication
February 10, 2022
A blood test could help doctors predict which pregnant women are likely to develop a life-threatening condition called preeclampsia, a study co-authored by Claudia Holzman, PhD.
Expanded Pipeline Program to Increase Diverse Health Care Workforce Through University-Community Partnerships
February 10, 2022
MSU College of Human Medicine is part of the expanding West Michigan Health Careers Pipeline Program, an initiative that introduces teens from underrepresented and minority populations to health science careers.
A Journey from Doctor to Terminal Patient
February 9, 2022
Alumna Sally Wilson reflects on her experiences as a doctor, mother and terminal patient. The daughter she carried across the stage at commencement 25 years ago is now in medical school, following in her mother’s footsteps.
Kalkanis Appointed Associate Dean for Detroit Campus
February 9, 2022
In his new role, Steven Kalkanis, MD, will oversee the education of medical students at the new regional campus based at the historic Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Meet Jamila Power, Lansing's new Community Assistant Dean
February 9, 2022
As an emergency room physician, Jamila Power is always ready for whatever comes. In her new role as community assistant dean for the Lansing campus, she draws upon that experience to help students navigate the demanding third and fourth years of medical school.
Dean's Update
February 4, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Each week during Black History Month, I try to write something relevant in the dean’s update, or rather I hope to encourage people to look up and learn something relevant to Black History Month. HBCUs have a long and cherished place in our communities, and these institutions have been leaders in creating opportunity and expertise for Americans, especially African Americans.
Building a Better Bandage
January 28, 2022
With a $2 million grant from NIH, Morteza Mahmoudi, PhD, and his team are working to find effective treatments for chronic wounds.
Dean's Update
January 26, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Today, Michigan State University and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation announced a transformational, $25 million grant from the foundation to the College of Human Medicine to expand the college’s public health program in Flint, Michigan.
Mott Foundation Grants $25M to MSU to Expand Public Health Initiatives in Flint
January 26, 2022
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has granted $25 million to expand the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine’s public health presence in Flint. The grant will create an endowed fund to increase public health faculty, academic research and community health collaborations.
Students Honored with Appointments to Academy of Family Physicians Boards Take to Heart the Importance of Women of Color in Leadership Positions
January 25, 2022
Two College of Human Medicine students chosen to Academy of Family Physicians Executive Boards are honored by the appointments and understand the importance of women in leadership roles.
Dean's Update
January 21, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Despite progress on testing equity and some perception that Michigan has been doing better than many states in addressing COVID-19 disparities, as a state we have tragic racial disparities in deaths rates from COVID-19. In the current surge in Ingham County, case rates show the same kind of disparity. As we see consistently in economic upheaval, downturns land with their own racial disparities evidenced this year in higher levels of unemployment and evictions among Black Americans.
Fighting addiction and removing the stigma
January 18, 2022
How MSU is saving lives by training current and future doctors to treat substance use disorders
Dean's Update
January 14, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
Despite progress on testing equity and some perception that Michigan has been doing better than many states in addressing COVID-19 disparities, as a state we have tragic racial disparities in deaths rates from COVID-19. In the current surge in Ingham County, case rates show the same kind of disparity. As we see consistently in economic upheaval, downturns land with their own racial disparities evidenced this year in higher levels of unemployment and evictions among Black Americans.
Words of Wellness: Having Some Fun
January 14, 2022 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
It may seem crazy to be asked “when did you last have fun?” in the throes of a never-ending pandemic. But hear me out, I really want you to consider what you do for fun, and how recently you deliberately had any.
Dean's Update
January 7, 2022 - Aron Sousa, MD
I trust you all had as good a holiday season as beloved parts of American culture can offer, and that you had the chance for some rest. Of course, I suggest getting some rest just as the university converts again to partial online education and COVID-19 cases skyrocket.
2021 Academic Affairs Award Recipients
January 1, 2022 - Office of Academic Affairs
The Office of Academic Affairs announces its 2021 award recipients.
Published Research
December 31, 2021
The latest published research from College of Human Medicine faculty.
Year in Review: Students Share 2021 Highlights
December 27, 2021
As we reflect on 2021, we asked our students to share their personal highlights as medical students this year. Read just a few of the many inspiring stories.
Dean's Update
December 23, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This is the end of the semester, a remarkable semester in which we have successfully taught in person throughout. In the medical education program, we have been teaching in clinics and simulation for nearly all of the pandemic. But this semester our large and small group courses were also in person.
Dean's Update
December 17, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This is the end of the semester, a remarkable semester in which we have successfully taught in person throughout. In the medical education program, we have been teaching in clinics and simulation for nearly all of the pandemic. But this semester our large and small group courses were also in person.
Words of Wellness: Time for a Reframe
December 16, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
Feeling stuck? You’re not alone. In a recent mindful popup session, I mentioned my own sense of stuck-ness and was interested to hear from several of the participants that it had struck a chord. What’s going on?
Dean's Update
December 10, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
In the last week, I’ve had a number of people asking about the omicron variant of COVID-19, and what it all means. There are a lot of opinions and preliminary data swirling around the interwebs, and while much of it gives one reason for hope, as of today, there is still too much uncertainty to say anything with conviction…except that there is a lot of uncertainty.
Dean's Update
December 3, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week I have been struck and saddened by senseless, preventable deaths in our communities. The horrific school shooting in Southeast Michigan resulting in four deaths returns our nation to the public health challenges of guns, mental health, and school safety.
November College News
November 30, 2021
Awards, faculty and student news, along with other college updates.
Couch Receives Research Administrator Award
November 30, 2021
Theresa Couch, research administrator in the Health Colleges Research Services, was honored by the Society of Research Administrators International with the “Future of the Field” award.
Dean's Update
November 24, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This is a short work week for those of us not on call, or on service, or keeping animals healthy, or backing up our infrastructure, or working security for the college. There are a lot of people in a medical college who continue working over weekends and holidays, and the rest of us depend on all of them.
Words of Wellness: Fixed or Flourishing?
November 23, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
This past weekend I had the opportunity to witness an open mind. The willingness to consider a different perspective and a subsequent thirst for more exposure to varying points of view was an honor to witness.
Native American Heritage Month: A Student Reflection
November 23, 2021
Second-year College of Human Medicine student Amanda Ziminski reflects on the important role her heritage has played in her journey into medicine and shares why Native American Heritage Month is so important.
Dean's Update
November 19, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
Somehow it has happened again, Michigan has one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country. Our hospital partners are being inundated; elective surgeries requiring hospitalization are being delayed once more.
AOA Inductees
November 16, 2021
Congratulations to the students, residents, faculty and alumni inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Gamma Chapter.
Dean's Update
November 12, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
By and large, I try to keep our in memoriam news in the obituary section of the college’s website, but this last week, we lost Ralph Watson, MD, and I am going to make use of the interim dean’s prerogative to say a few words about Ralph.
Fall 2021 Faculty Awards
November 10, 2021
Congratulations to the recipients of the College of Human Medicine's 2021 Faculty Awards! Among those honored was Nigel Paneth, MD, MPH, who received the Lester J. Evans, MD, Distinguished Service Award, November 10.
Obituary: Ralph E. Watson, MD
November 3, 2021
Ralph E. Watson, MD, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2021, while in Houston, surrounded and supported by his family.
October College News
October 31, 2021
Awards, faculty and student news, along with other college updates.
Dean's Update
October 29, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week and last, I have been rounding with the internal medicine teams. Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy my time as an attending on the MSU internal medicine service.
Words of Wellness: Give Yourself a Break Today
October 26, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
Have you given any thought to self-compassion lately? Maybe it’s time.
Dean's Update
October 22, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week and last, I have been rounding with the internal medicine teams. Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy my time as an attending on the MSU internal medicine service.
Obituary: Ira Gewolb, MD
October 20, 2021
Ira Gewolb, MD, passed away October 20, 2021. An internationally recognized leader in the field of neonatology, Dr. Gewolb served as professor in the College of Human Medicine Department of Pediatrics and Human and chief of the Division of Neonatology from 2004 until his retirement in 2019.
Dean's Update
October 15, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
One of the core projects for educational programs is accreditation. It is always a lot of work, and it takes a special team to bring the energy and enthusiasm required to successfully get a program accredited. Our Master of Public Health degree program (MPH) has that team.
Dean's Update
October 8, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
As of now, additional jabs with Moderna and J&J vaccines are under discussion but are not yet available. This is a complex subject, and to help discuss the data and the reasoning behind the push for third shots, I’ve invited Keith English, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development to discuss the topic with me.
Dean's Update
October 1, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
MSU is celebrating Homecoming this week. After 18 months of pandemic COVID-19 and several months of endemic COVID-19, every time I return to one of our workplaces, it feels like a homecoming.
September College News
September 30, 2021
Awards, faculty and student news, along with other college updates.
Women in Medicine Month
September 30, 2021
To honor Women in Medicine Month, several alumni wrote about women who have inspired and impacted their careers in medicine.
Words of Wellness: Opening
September 29, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
This past weekend I had the opportunity to witness an open mind. The willingness to consider a different perspective and a subsequent thirst for more exposure to varying points of view was an honor to witness.
Dean's Update
September 24, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This is the last Friday of Women in Medicine Month, and as for the prior weeks of September, I have turned over the Dean’s Update and the Town Hall to an alumnus to write about a woman in medicine who inspired them. This week, our author is Lisa McElroy, MD, MS (CHM ’09).
Op Ed: Medical School Deans' Statement on Public Health
September 24, 2021
The Deans of Michigan's medical schools authored this op ed in the Detroit Free Press.
Obituary: William Smyth Abbett, PhD
September 18, 2021
William Smyth Abbett, PhD, of Okemos, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at the age of 79. In 1991 Dr. Abbett became the third dean of the College of Human Medicine, a position he held until 2000.
Dean's Update
September 17, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week falls within both Women in Medicine Month and National Hispanic Heritage Month, and keeping with my practice this month, I have turned the update over to one of our alumni. This week, Dr. Herminia Bierema (CHM ’84) is writing for me. Dr. Bierema is a wonderful pediatrician at Paint Creek Pediatrics in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Dean's Update
September 10, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This is our second week of Women in Medicine Month, and, rather than writing about women in medicine myself, I am turning over the bulk of the update to College of Human Medicine women alumni writing brief pieces about women in medicine who inspired them. This week, Janet Osuch, MD (CHM ‘79, ’00), has written a lovely piece about fellow cancer surgeon Dr. Susan Love.
Dean's Update
September 3, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
September is Women in Medicine Month, and while I thought about writing about women in medicine in the update each week of the month, I thought it was probably better to ask some women to write about women in medicine each week. First up is Marsha D. Rappley, MD.
August College News
August 31, 2021
Awards, faculty and student news, along with other college updates.
A Calling to Care for the Underserved
August 30, 2021
For Anthony Bonilla-Salmeron, it was when he nearly died from a ruptured appendix at the age of 12. For Aghdas Movassaghi it was her grandmother's diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Those events sent each on a course that, despite many obstacles, brought them to the College of Human Medicine to begin their journeys to care for the underserved.
Dean's Update
August 27, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
As you all know, Barbara Forney is leaving CHM for the Office of Health Sciences with some small piece of retirement as a part of the transition. We are taking this as a time to integrate faculty affairs and development with our academic and staff human resources teams.
Words of Wellness: Training Lessons
August 26, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
I signed up to participate a half marathon in September and have been training for weeks. Each time I run, many lessons come into my mind that are applicable to life in general.
Dean's Update
August 20, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
I happened to talk to leaders at several of the state’s hospital systems this week. And while COVID-19 has not been a major problem in our hospitals for a couple of months, adequate staffing has been a struggle. They each have hundreds of openings for people in nursing and allied health professions – the folks who make a hospital run.
Dean's Update
August 13, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week, we welcomed 190 Early Clinical Experience (ECE) students to the College of Human Medicine. While last year orientation was entirely virtual, this year we all gathered our masked selves in Life Sciences A133 as in decades before.
Chen Named MSU Foundation Professor
August 9, 2021
Honglei Chen, MD, PhD, has been named a Michigan State University Foundation Professor for his outstanding research into the epidemiology of aging and neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s Disease.
LMSA and SNMA Students Serve as Mentors to Minority Children
August 9, 2021
College of Human Medicine students in the Latino Medical Student Association and the Student National Medical Association are teaching and inspiring kids participating in Baxter Community Center's Youth Mentoring Program.
Andrew Kim Launches "Get to Know" Podcast for Other Med Students
August 9, 2021
Andrew Kim created the podcast Get to Know to meet and learn about his classmates during the pandemic, when in-person learning was very limited. His subjects are varied: a classmate who combines his interest in art and fashion with medicine, another who studied political philosophy before deciding on a career in medicine, and one who enrolled at age 40 after serving as a Green Beret medic.
Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductees
August 8, 2021
"The future of medicine is bold and bright with you at the helm," said Emily Bush in her remarks to fellow Gold Humanism Honor Society members at the recent induction ceremony. Congratulations to the 30 students and four faculty who joined the society this year.
Dean's Update
August 6, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week I had the pleasure of gathering with the good folks in Academic Affairs to recognize and celebrate ten colleagues who retired over the course of the pandemic.
Dean's Update
July 30, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
By now most of you know that MSU has moved to a mask and vaccine mandate for students AND faculty and staff. The mask mandate is just like our world a few months ago, except there will be more people in our offices and classrooms.
Dean's Update
July 16, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
It’s time to talk about teaching. I did some regular, olde tyme teaching in a real classroom this week at the hospital during in-person didactics for internal medicine residents. And, on my last day of service, a Middle Clinical Experience student joined our team, which meant I got to help someone hear some of their first heart murmurs.
Dean's Update
July 9, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
As dedicated readers of my updates will know, I am in the midst of two weeks of hospital service. Helping residents care for patients in the hospital is one of the best parts of my job – being with the patients and their families is emotionally very meaningful.
Dean's Update
July 2, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
What a difference a few months make. This week I started my fortnight of rounding at the hospital, and my team’s census includes only one patient with COVID-19. When I started rounding in April, half of the patients assigned to the team had or were recovering from COVID-19.
Words of Wellness: Reemergence
June 29, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
We are fifteen months post initial shut down. After a year that was odd for all of us (to say the least) and experienced differently by many, several state restrictions have been rescinded.
Obituary: Andrew Michael Michelakis, MD, PhD
June 28, 2021
Andrew Michael Michelakis, MD, PhD, age 93, passed away June 28, 2021. He came to the College of Human Medicine in 1974, where he served as professor of pharmacology/toxicology.
Dean's Update
June 25, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
In 2019, when I became interim dean the second time, I started visiting clinics to meet people and to inquire about quality and safety efforts. Up until the pandemic, I was pretty consistently visiting clinics, and I’ve started doing those again including some visits as part of MSU Health Care’s leadership rounds effort.
Dean's Update
June 18, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This weekend is Juneteenth, the closest thing the country has had to a holiday celebrating the end of slavery. It’s hard to understand how it took so long to establish this as a holiday, but the lack of a widespread celebration is another piece of the subtle, or not too subtle, racism in society.
Dean's Update
June 11, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week we welcomed two new cyclotrons to Grand Rapids for the Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building. These machines and the attached radiopharmaceutical producing units will help provide cutting edge therapy for cancer, as well as research and medical opportunities for many conditions.
Dean's Update
June 4, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
President Stanley met with our Division of Public Health faculty, medical students, and MSU Extension educators, visited the Hurley Children’s Clinic, met with legislators, and generally got to experience the amazing work our people do with the people of Flint.
Dean's Update
May 28, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week last year, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer. In the time since, I hope we have held on to the energy and dedication that was so apparent then.
Advocating for Headache Patients
May 27, 2021
Larry Charleston, IV, MD, was recently recruited as a professor and director of the Headache and Facial Pain Division in the Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology. His work will focus on patient care, teaching, research and advocacy. He continues to encourage more funding for research into head and facial pain, including into disparities in care for many patients.
Top Ranked OBGYN Research
May 27, 2021
Among its peers, the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology received some of the highest total funding for research from the National Institutes of Health last year, a recent report found.
Dean's Update
May 21, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
Over the last month or so, my conversations with chairs, community leaders, and faculty have included a spontaneous turn toward the future and future transitions. It may or may not be a real phenomenon, but it sure seems like people are deeply considering retirements and changes to their work focus as we come out of the depths of the pandemic.
Jeong Receives $2.9 Million Nih Grant to Study Link Between Endometriosis and Infertility
May 19, 2021
Medical researchers have long known of a link between endometriosis and infertility in women, but precisely how the two are related remains unknown. But now a team that includes Michigan State University researchers, backed by a federal grant, hopes to solve that mystery and find possible treatments.
Dean's Update
May 14, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week, our teams are ramping up efforts to begin returning more people to our campuses as the state has surpassed the governor’s first vaccination milestone – 55% of people eligible have been vaccinated.
Words of Wellness: Back in the Pool?
May 12, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
There is cautious optimism about the months ahead based on current trends. Along with optimism, there is a vague pervasive anxiety about how to navigate the times ahead.
Congratulations Spartan MDs!
May 10, 2021
This month, we congratulate 182 graduates on entering the physician workforce. Go Green. Go White. Go Forth! See highlights from the celebration.
MSU Scientists Receive $2.75 Million NIH Grant to Study NOTCH1 Gene’s Link to Endometriosis
May 10, 2021
College of Human Medicine researchers have received a National Institutes of Health grant to study the connection between a gene important for normal cell survival and endometriosis, a painful disease which affects one in 10 women of reproductive age. The disease also has a significant economic impact, estimated at $95 billion annually in the U.S. in lost wages and medical expenses.
Dean's Update
May 7, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
I have been following the great trauma and tragedy unfolding in India as the latest COVID-19 surge courses through cities and countryside. Like here, the virus is a mindless bit of chemistry, and its onslaught lays bare the structures, struggles, inequities, and politics of society and community.
April College News
April 30, 2021
Awards, faculty and student news, along with other college updates.
Dean's Update
April 30, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
The core of this physician care, and the backbone of care at any teaching hospital, is the residents. I have a great team and they have done an excellent job for the patients and have kept me out of trouble too.
Dean's Update
April 23, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
The conviction of George Floyd’s murderer on all counts provides hope but not resolution or solution to racism in society…including racism in health and medicine.
Thomas O’Halloran Appointed as MSU Foundation Professor
April 21, 2021
Thomas O'Halloran, PhD, recently joined the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics and Chemistry. Through a MSU Foundation grant, he will conduct high-risk, high-reward research into new inorganic compounds that could lead to a treatment for certain types of blood, breast, and brain cancers.
Mott Community College and MSU College of Human Medicine Sign Articulation Agreement
April 20, 2021
MSU College of Human Medicine and Mott Community College have agreed to establish a cooperative program of premedical/medical education by which MCC students who transfer as undergraduate premedical students to Michigan State University will have the opportunity to be granted an early assurance for admission to the College of Human Medicine.
Dean's Update
April 16, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
After weeks and months of starting with COVID-19 in a dean’s update, I thought I would start with some celebrations this week.
Annie Li Yang Student Essay Contest 2021
April 15, 2021
Three student essays were chosen for the 2021 Annie Li Yang Student Essay Contest. Emily Brereton won first prize for her essay “Becoming a Doctor.” Second prize was awarded to Eunice Im for the essay “Seeing People” and third place to Karren Wong for her essay “The Art and Science of Medicine.”
Obituary: George Vande Woude, PhD
April 13, 2021
George Vande Woude, PhD, Van Andel Institute’s founding research director, passed away April 13, 2021. He was a world-renowned scientist whose storied career revolutionized the understanding of cancer.
Dean's Update
April 9, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
I hope you and yours are safe. Michigan leads the country in COVID-19 as a hot spot. As of today, 13 of the 15 “hottest” metro areas in the country are in Michigan. Similarly, 13 of the 20 metro areas with the fastest increase in cases are in Michigan.
Fazleabas Receives $2.75M NIH Endometriosis Research Grant
April 7, 2021
College of Human Medicine researchers have received a National Institutes of Health grant to study the connection between a gene important for normal cell survival and endometriosis, a painful disease which affects one in 10 women of reproductive age. The disease also has a significant economic impact, estimated at $95 billion annually in the U.S. in lost wages and medical expenses.
Dean's Update
April 2, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
The COVID-19 outbreak around us is real, and the surge is big enough and bad enough that I am not going to write about anything else today.
March College News
March 31, 2021
Awards, faculty and student news, along with other college updates.
2021 Match Day Stories
March 31, 2021
Several students share their experiences leading up to the Match, their Match Day celebrations, what they are looking forward to in residency and their advice for future medical students going through the process.
Words of Wellness: Is it over yet?
March 26, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
After a year of waiting, waiting some more, and asking ourselves ‘when it will end?’ there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
MSU All-University Awards Honor Outstanding Faculty and Staff
March 19, 2021
MSU All-University Awards honored Ade Olomu, MD, from the Department of Medicine with the William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award, and research specialist Madeleine Lenski, from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, received a Distinguished Academic Staff.
Dean's Update
March 19, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
I want to start this week by expressing my sorrow and anger over the shootings in Georgia, which killed mostly Asian women. Clearly, discrimination, xenophobia, harassment, and violence against Asian/Pacific Island Americans (APIA) are to be condemned by everyone in the college and our university.
Students Show Appreciation on "Thank a Resident Day"
March 19, 2021
Gold Humanism Honor Society members Emmanuella Joseph and Andrew-Huy Dang organized this year’s Thank a Resident Day for all seven campuses with virtual “thank you” cards designed to send to residents along with Starbucks gift cards.
MSU Psychiatry Clerkship Administrator Nationally Recognized
March 18, 2021
Callie Langenderfer, who oversees psychiatry clerkships for the Colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine, has received national recognition and honored with the 2021 Excellence in Clerkship Administration Award.
Dean's Update
March 12, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
It has been a year since we moved most of the college online after the first COVID-19 cases were identified in the area. Our educational program moved online literally overnight, our teams brought up telehealth in weeks, and our students were back in their clinics faster than most schools in the country.
Words of Wellness: March 9, 2021
March 9, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
Among the many tired clichés that have been used about getting through this pandemic, is “this is a marathon not a sprint.” This got me thinking – a good metaphor for where we are now is the “wall” that runners hit.
Students, Faculty & Alumni Continue Fighting COVID-19 with Vaccines
March 9, 2021
Across the country, College of Human Medicine students, faculty and alumni continue to do their part to combat COVID-19. They share their stories about receiving the vaccine and helping with vaccine administration, nasal swabbing and contact tracing as part of the community health pandemic response throughout the state.
Dean's Update
March 5, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
As our weather turns warmer and the COVID-19 outlook improves with the addition of a third vaccine, I think it is prudent to remain vigilant and careful.
February College News
February 28, 2021
Awards, faculty and student news, along with other college updates.
Dean's Update
February 26, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week, the COVID-19 death toll in the US passed 500,000 lives lost. That is a nearly unfathomable number of people lost in less than a year – slightly more than the population of the Lansing metro area.
Dean's Update
February 19, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
I hope you and yours are safe and well. Some members of our college have families in the communities hard hit by the most recent winter storm and frigid temperatures, and some of us recall the difficulty of living through prolonged power outages.
Words of Wellness: February 12, 2021
February 12, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
We have made it through a spring, a summer, a fall and a good part of a winter since the first Stay Home Stay Safe order.
Dean's Update
February 12, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
I have to admit to growing optimism about our overall progress in confronting the pandemic. The vaccines have been very safe and many of them are remarkably effective. The more people we can vaccinate quickly, the better our chances of really pushing down the pandemic.
Front Lines of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Trial
February 11, 2021
Pediatrician Jenny Bush, MD, participates in Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine ENSEMBLE Study. Lead investigators for the study in West Michigan are Eric Achtyes, MD, director of the college's Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, and Leslie Pelkey, MD, chief medical officer for Cherry Health.
Bernstein Receives Outstanding New Environmental Scientist Award
February 10, 2021
Alison Bernstein has received an Outstanding New Environmental Scientist Award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
Dean's Update
February 5, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This is one of the first weeks in a long time when my schedule and meetings were not really dominated by the pandemic. And because my job usually runs about 3-9 months ahead of current events, I take that as a good sign.
World Class Investigators
February 3, 2021
University Distinguished Professors Asgi Fazleabas and Provost Teresa Woodruff have been honored as Distinguished Fellows by the Society for the Study of Reproduction.
Leadership Appointments in the Center of Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences
February 2, 2021
Sean Valles and Karen Kelly-Blake were appointed leadership positions in the Center of Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences.
The People Behind the Early Detection Program
January 31, 2021
A three-part series sharing the stories of the College of Human Medicine's people behind the scenes whose hard work and long hours enabled the university to launch the Spartan Early Detection program.
Dean's Update
January 29, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
This week, MSU and Henry Ford Health System signed and announced a 30-year partnership agreement. The partnership focuses on developing innovative research, education, and clinical programs that will advance health and help address health disparities and DEI concerns.
Dean's Update
January 22, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
What a week! We had a wonderful MLK event with Dr. Furr-Holden as one of the speakers. She discussed the differences between race and racism, health disparities and health inequity, equity and assurance of access to health.
Words of Wellness: January 15, 2021
January 15, 2021 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
As we awaited the end of 2020 and were hoping for brighter days ahead, 2021 had other plans.
Dean's Update
January 15, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
As I watch the political crisis and the pandemic reach historic crescendos at a national level, I want to make sure we focus on what we are doing locally to keep people safe and healthy.
Dean's Update
January 8, 2021 - Aron Sousa, MD
Our country struggles with truth telling, and it is pretty hard to advance the modern enterprise of providing for the general welfare when telling the truth about COVID-19, racism, climate change, and the elections is, somehow, a challenge.
Published Research | 2020
December 31, 2020
Published research from College of Human Medicine faculty in 2020.
Words of Wellness: October 30, 2020
October 30, 2020 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
Claudia Finkelstein, MDCM, Director of Wellness, Resilience And Vulnerable Populations, offers tips for helping students navigate polarizing pandemic election times.
Words of Wellness: August 19, 2020
August 19, 2020 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
As September rapidly approaches, so do questions of returning to school, work, and sports – safely – in person, in a “hybrid” way, or at all.
2020 Academic Affairs Award Recipients
August 1, 2020 - Office of Academic Affairs
The Office of Academic Affairs announces its 2020 award recipients.
Words of Wellness: June 16, 2020
June 16, 2020 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
I had planned to write a COVID-19 re-entry toolkit for this episode of the Culture of Caring newsletter. It will come. However, there is still much to be discussed and learned about racism and anti-racism.
Words of Wellness: June 3, 2020
June 3, 2020 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
Are you feeling powerless as an ally right now? Here are some actions you can consider.
Words of Wellness: May 13, 2020
May 13, 2020 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
As we awaited the end of 2020 and were hoping for brighter days ahead, 2021 had other plans.
Words of Wellness: April 14, 2020
April 14, 2020 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
A word about trauma, followed by tips and resources.
Words of Wellness: April 3, 2020
April 3, 2020 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
As we approach the second week of the governor’s order to ‘Stay home. Stay safe. Save lives.’ many of you may have noticed swings in emotions, energy levels, motivation and anxiety.
Words of Wellness: March 23, 2020
March 23, 2020 - Culture of Caring - Claudia Finkelstein
Is there any other story this week or last? We know that the strains of keeping our institution running are present even in the best of times.
Published Research | 2019
December 31, 2019
Published research from College of Human Medicine faculty in 2019.
2019 Academic Affairs Award Recipients
August 1, 2019 - Office of Academic Affairs
The Office of Academic Affairs announces its 2019 award recipients.
Patiently Gazing into Patients’ Lives
January 1, 2019 - Annie Li Yang
The Annie Li Yang Student Essay Contest is named in honor of Annie Li Yang (1995-2019), one of the inaugural essay winners. In her winning 2019 Inaugural Student Essay Contest entry, Annie candidly delved into her fear of and journey to overcome reductive thinking, stressing the importance of always keeping sight of the individuality of patients and their lives outside of the hospital or clinic.
Published Research | 2018
December 31, 2018
Published research from College of Human Medicine faculty in 2018.
Published Research | 2017
December 31, 2017
Published research from College of Human Medicine faculty in 2017