Colleagues,
For nearly 18 months, I have called upon many across our campus to help reimagine the future of MSU Health Sciences. Through one-on-one conversations and feedback from thousands of survey participants, this collective effort has produced a One Health vision shaped by our community.
As health care and education evolve, we see the growing value of adopting a One Health approach that recognizes the interconnected health of people, animals and the environment. As the nation’s premier land-grant university, Michigan State is uniquely positioned to address the world’s biggest challenges through this integrated approach. This is the foundation of our One Team, One Health vision. By leveraging our strengths in biobehavioral research, our statewide Extension network and our collaborative spirit, we have a unique opportunity to help build a healthier future.
Many colleagues have contributed significant time and research to this initiative. Their work has been both illuminating and energizing, shaped by distinguished leaders and partners who strengthened our current model and are now helping shape this bold step forward. While I am grateful for the work that has been done, I want to be clear that the purpose of this effort is to find the right path ahead. I recognize that a vision of this scale brings natural questions and concerns. As we move forward, we will do so with a commitment to transparency, professional respect and the high standards within our disciplines.
As I reviewed the One Health Council report (available Friday, March 13, on the One Team, One Health website), I thoroughly examined the proposed recommendations. While most of the council recommendations will be implemented, some of the specifics are still under consideration. I am encouraged by the innovation, partnership and collaboration shown thus far and invite all Spartans to continue supporting this important work as we best position MSU to lead in a rapidly changing society that calls upon research universities like ours to push the boundaries of new discoveries and possibilities.
With the primary recommendations of the One Health Council now finalized, we will begin our pursuit of the following actions:
- We will establish an integrated, cross-cutting One Health Research Network. This model is designed to move MSU from parallel research efforts to an improved and strategically aligned academic health research enterprise. It will organize faculty and infrastructure around shared thematic research priorities and align research strategies more closely with our clinical and community partners while better supporting our faculty in pursuing and successfully securing federal program grants and funding.
- We will unify the College of Human Medicine and the College of Osteopathic Medicine into a single, integrated college offering both M.D. and D.O. degrees. This structure is intended to honor the value of a diverse, collaborative approach to interprofessional medical education and health care delivery. This unification is designed to preserve and celebrate the unique identities and rich histories of these two distinguished academic enterprises. We are committed to ensuring that this transition to a unified structure maintains the distinct heritage and excellence of each accredited program, with the protection of their independent LCME and COCA accreditations as a nonnegotiable priority. A larger, more visible health presence will strengthen our ability to build strategic partnerships, create new opportunities for our students, expand existing programs, launch new initiatives and better serve the needs of Michigan.
- We will create a College of Health Sciences. This new college will reflect the growing alignment of core competencies and the interdisciplinary collaboration that prepares our graduates for critical health science roles in today’s health care environment. By reimagining our structure and expanding learning opportunities, we can better position the university to meet high-demand workforce needs and offer new educational pathways for students.
In tandem with these primary recommendations, other key considerations will be discussed and determined in the coming weeks:
- The future state of the Office of Health Sciences will be evaluated with the goal of streamlining operations and protecting our people. Every member of the OHS team plays a valuable role. As we move forward, many of the academic and administrative functions currently housed in OHS are expected to transition to the relevant college or unit where they can continue to support the integrated academic mission. We anticipate establishing a smaller, focused office dedicated to strengthening and coordinating our systemwide partnerships, including, but not limited to, Henry Ford Health, Corewell Health, McLaren and UM Health-Sparrow.
- Regarding the College of Health Sciences’ structure and degree offerings, final decisions must be made in close partnership with the affected programs and colleges. While the task force submitted an extensive collection of data on potential programs that could be included, we will continue to engage directly with faculty and leadership in these units to ensure that any moves are academically sound and mutually beneficial. This will be a collaborative vetting process, and we will share more as these joint decisions continue.
- The College of Nursing will continue to be evaluated for potential inclusion in the new College of Health Sciences but will remain a stand-alone college for now. Regardless of where Nursing may sit in the future, the program will operate with renewed emphasis and focus on support in this high-demand and critical field. Expansion of the college’s student population, along with growth in its academic and research programs, will strengthen its mission while supporting the recruitment and retention of top talent.
At this stage, we are beginning the formal review and planning processes required for implementation, including coordination with accrediting bodies, academic governance and university leadership. I’m grateful that our Board of Trustees has expressed enthusiasm for these bold actions and has been supportive throughout this process. We anticipate bringing these recommendations to the board for formal approval in the coming months.
Early priorities include identifying the right leaders to help shape the research network and the new colleges. I’ll be charging our new vice president for Research and Innovation with implementing the research network recommendations proposed by the One Health Council and in alignment with the task force report. With input from key stakeholders, we also will begin developing leadership profiles and search processes for the inaugural executive dean of the unified medical college, likely to be named MSU Medicine, and the inaugural dean of the College of Health Sciences. Until approvals are secured, our current structures and operations will continue as usual.
Change of this scale requires patience, engagement and a high level of trust. I know there are likely many questions about the next steps and implications for each of the initiatives mentioned in this email and the final report.
An FAQ web page is available to begin addressing many of these inquiries and will be updated as developments become available. As this work continues to evolve, not all questions will be able to be answered immediately. We will continue collaborating with faculty, staff, campus partners and union representatives as we advance our collective work. I remain committed to seeing us do this work with intention and purpose and encourage you to speak with your respective deans with specific inquiries.
As a leading global public research university, we must continue to be strategic, bold and student-focused to meet the evolving needs of our state and nation. I am deeply grateful for the professionalism shown throughout this process to date. This work represents more than structural change. It reflects our belief that Michigan State University can and must lead in shaping the future of integrated health sciences. Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission and to one another. It is a true One Team effort.
I look forward to the important work ahead.
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
President
John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor
Department of Kinesiology