Reimagining the Future of Health Sciences at Michigan State University
Michigan State University is advancing a bold vision for the future of health sciences through the One Team, One Health initiative. As health care and education evolves, 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.
Upon naming the One Health Council and four task forces in May of 2025, the exploration began in pursuit of bold ideas and opportunities to achieve this vision. Through community and faculty conversations, research and evaluation, recommendations became clear. The university is excited to pursue next steps for the following efforts:
- 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 MD and DO 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 non-negotiable 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.
As a presidential initiative directly aligned to MSU’s 2030 strategic plan, One Team, One Health is a strategic, bold and student-focused vision that creates expanded opportunities and advanced equity, elevating our excellence to attract vital talent while preparing our strong programs for the future of health.
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. Continued support and engagement is vital as it is a true One Team effort.