Dean’s Scholars Program
The Dean’s Scholars Program is a 4-year program that includes curriculum enhancement opportunities for leadership development, specialized mentorship, scholarly research, and community engagement. Dean’s Scholars Program students also receive a full tuition scholarship at Michigan residency rates for a total of eleven (11) semesters of medical school.
Candidates for the Dean’s Scholars Program are selected during the admissions process and are invited to interview for the program. Three Dean’s Scholars are identified each year. Qualified candidates are those who have engaged in coursework and activities that demonstrate a commitment to addressing healthcare disparities and improving health outcomes; have leadership experience and demonstrate potential to grow as a leader; have exposure and experience working with different people, whether through their life experience or chosen activities; and have demonstrated strong academic performance in the classroom and on the MCAT.
The program aims to recognize and support outstanding medical students dedicated to advancing health equity. As a community-based medical school, our students are uniquely positioned to engage with the multitude of patient populations in Michigan and learn to deliver care that will improve the health of all. We envision our scholars as future healthcare leaders who excel in patient care, research, and community service. By fostering leadership, a commitment to health justice, and a passion for public service, we aspire to shape exemplary physicians who will transform healthcare and improve access for all.
Learn More About the Dean's Scholars
Lanah Almatroud | Farid Alsabeh | Esha Elahi | Kimberly Forman | Kate George | Thomas Kelbel | Elizabeth Phelps | Angela Rea | Ali Rehman | Blaine Teahan | Larissa Todd | Priya Vijayakumar
College of Human Medicine Dean's Scholars Award
Funds will provide scholarship support for students who have been accepted into the Dean’s Scholars Program.
Donate to the Dean's Scholars Award FundCollege of Human Medicine Dean's Scholars Programmatic Fund
Funds will be used to provide support for the Dean’s Scholars Program, including but not limited to social events, guest speakers, student travel, etc.
Donate to the Dean's Scholars Programmatic Fund
All Dean's Scholars
Lanah Almatroud, M4
Lansing
Lanah Almatroud is an M3 passionate about research and community service, with a focus on cancer and underserved populations. She hopes to be a physician-leader who advances equity by expanding access to cancer prevention, treatment, and compassionate care.
Leadership Experience
- Founder and President of BridginGaps Organization
- Medical Translator and Native Speaker Lead
- VP American Medical Women's Association
- Founder and Co-President of Serving the Underserved Student Organization
Farid Alsabeh, M3
East Lansing
"My ultimate goal as a future physician is to develop paradigms of health care that integrate both mental and physical health. I’ve applied my training in psychotherapy to address the psychosocial needs of patients through organizations like Gilda’s Club, and I hope to continue doing this work as a physician leader."
Leadership Experience
- Psychotherapist
- Speaker at Gilda's Club
- Writer for GLPG, KevinMD, and the Michigan Daily
Esha Elahi, M2
Grand Rapids
"I aspire to be a physician who uses my position to advocate for my community with respect to health outcomes and access. As a Dean’s Scholar, I hope to learn how to intertwine the practice of medicine with the art of conducting legislative work that focuses on improved health for all."
Leadership Experience
- President, VP, Chair of Mu Epsilon Delta
- Michigan Health and Hospital Association Public Policy Fellow
- HerCampus Featured Writer
Kimberly Forman, M3
East Lansing
"I am an MD/MBA student at the College of Human Medicine whose eight years as a paramedic, including service as a flight paramedic, inspired my commitment to health equity and systems-level change. At CHM, I serve as co-president of both the Emergency Medicine Interest Group and the Business in Healthcare Association, and I volunteer with Spartan Street Medicine, where I work to advance mentorship, leadership, and community service as part of my goal to bridge frontline patient care with the broader systems that shape health outcomes."
Leadership Experience
- Critical Care Paramedic; Flight Paramedic
- tutor/TA for paramedic program
- President Business in Healthcare Association
- Co-President of the Emergency Medicine Interest Group and US Army Healthcare Specialist
- Fundraising Chair for APAMSA
Kate George, M2
Grand Rapids
"I aspire to be a physician-leader grounded in equity, dignity, clinical excellence, and rigorous scientific inquiry. As a Dean’s Scholar, I aim to develop the skills to design and implement innovative programs and research that broaden access, improve outcomes, and foster dialogue around often-overlooked or stigmatized health issues, such as female fertility and opioid-use disorders."
Leadership Experience
- Resource Distribution and Education Chair for the Lookout Project
- Haiti and Adrica Relief Team Volunteer
- Facilitator in the Survivor Empowerment and Ally Support Program at SAPAC
Thomas Kelbel, M4
Traverse City
"With a foundation in public health, I'm driven to look beyond the clinic to understand how people live, recover, and thrive. As a future physician leader, I hope to build a career in physical medicine and rehabilitation—advocating for individuals with disabilities, promoting adaptive sports, and helping redefine recovery as a path to renewed purpose, independence, and joy."
Leadership Experience
- Co-Founded/Co-President of the Sports Medicine Interest Group
- President of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Student Interest Group and Executive Member of the Wilderness Medicine Interest Groups
- Advocate for accessible medicine and athletic prosthetics
- Leadership in Rural Medicine certificate program
Elizabeth Phelps, M2
East Lansing
"Rooted in my rural Michigan upbringing, my ongoing work in peer mental health, rural health policy, and street medicine reflects my passion for equitable, community-centered care. As a Dean's Scholar and a future rural primary care physician-leader, I am committed to advancing access to quality healthcare for all, regardless of zip code or income. "
Leadership Experience
- Soldier and Family Readiness Group volunteer
- Co-president of the Christian Medical and Dental Association
- presentations regarding cancer risk and prevention
- Student partner of college health and wellness team
- Leadership in Rural Medicine certificate program
Angela Rea, M1
East Lansing
"By integrating myself in Michigan communities throughout medical school, residency, and beyond, I hope to learn directly from people about their unique needs and how I can best support them. Each interaction will constitute a meaningful accomplishment in my career. Collectively, they will signify that I used my medical training beyond its technical utility–to advocate for and expand access to medical care."
Leadership Experience
- Former high school STEM Teacher
- Undergraduate Researcher, University of Notre Dame Department of Chemistry
- Orchestrated prototype improvements of a paper analytical device that detects the presence and concentration of illicit drugs
Ali Rehman, M1
East Lansing
"I hope to make an impact that extends beyond the exam room by improving healthcare access and outcomes for underserved populations. I am passionate about addressing the structural and social barriers that influence health, including language barriers, limited health literacy, transportation, and access to nutritious food. I hope to expand access to culturally responsive healthcare for underserved urban and rural communities, immigrant populations, and underserved populations across the globe while empowering patients to take an active role in their own health through patient advocacy and a collaborative, sustainable, interprofessional approach to healthcare."
Leadership Experience
- HUDA Urban Garden, Lead Volunteer Coordinator
- Co-Founder, Yes, No, Fingers - Wayne State Chapter
- Fundraising Chair, MEDLIFE, Wayne State University
- Mentor and Tutor, Biology Learning Assistants Group
- Assisted with or co-authored research on pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma, urology, and global health
Blaine Teahan, M4
Grand Rapids
"My chief aspiration as a physician is simple—to provide competent, comprehensive, and truly accessible primary care to the people of Lansing, all built upon caring relationships. This work will necessarily include advocating on behalf of my patients for the conditions that support their wellbeing. Over time, I hope to pass these values on by teaching future physicians."
Leadership Experience
- Research Coordinator for Spartan Street Medicine
- Co-President of the Family Medicine Interest Group, Teaching Assistant at MSU CHM
- Helped re-launch the CHM chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Association
- Organized and captain CHM intramural soccer team
Larissa Todd, M1
Grand Rapids
"Grounded in my rural Michigan roots and passion for community health, I hope to bridge clinical medicine and public health to advance health equity in underserved communities. As a future physician leader, I aspire to provide compassionate care, promote health education, and advocate for lasting solutions that improve access to healthcare. I want to work alongside communities like the one that shaped me to build healthier futures from within."
Leadership Experience
- Assistant Professor and Faculty Advisor, Medical Laboratory Science, University of Alaska Anchorage
- Recipient of Elizabeth Tower Endowment Grant, PI for research on the spread of antimicrobial resistant enterococcus in migrating caribou populations
- Member, University Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Volunteer, American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science, patient safety, and diagnostic stewardship committee
Priya Vijayakumar, M2
Grand Rapids
"I want health education to be accessible and available so patients can advocate for themselves and their communities better. I hope to do this through health journalism and public policy. I am excited to be a part of the Dean's scholar program so I can learn additional skills and gain hands-on experiences as a medical student to support my aspirations for becoming a physician leader."
Leadership Experience
- Health and Science Reporting for State Public Radio
- Berkeley Free Clinic
- Worked on prototyping assistive technology for Essential Tremor and producing medical-grade saline from hospital tap water.
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