Co-facilitators: Kirsten Waarala and Andrea Wendling
IC Liaison: Stacia Moroski-Rigney
This working group will develop recommendations for an academic framework that supports the creation of MSU Medicine while preserving the distinct educational approaches and degree identities of the Colleges of Human Medicine (CHM) and Osteopathic Medicine (COM). Members will evaluate opportunities for curricular alignment, interdisciplinary learning, clinical education, educational innovation, and the integration of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education. The group will also consider curricular oversight and continuous quality improvement to support a high-quality educational experience for all students, while consulting with the Accreditation Consulting Group to ensure recommendations remain consistent with accreditation requirements.
Melanie Barts
Michael Burry
John Clements
Migdalisel Colon-Berlingeri
Robin DeMuth
Lori Dykstra
Susan Enright
Carrie Feeheley
Stephanie Jalaba
Laryssa Kaufman
Jonathan Gold
Stuart Johnson
Jessica Wicks
Meghan Wieck
Co-facilitators: Brad Kline and Aaron Pahl
IC Liaison: David Maddox
This working group will develop recommendations for the financial and resource framework needed to support the creation of MSU Medicine. Members will examine approaches to resource allocation and financial management across the Colleges of Human Medicine (CHM) and Osteopathic Medicine (COM) to promote transparency, sustainability, and alignment with institutional priorities. The working group's recommendations will help establish equitable funding models, clarify financial decision-making processes, and support the effective stewardship of resources in advancing MSU Medicine's academic, research, clinical, and strategic goals.
Jennifer Edwards-Johnson
Martha Fanner
Ranjani Krishnan
Chad LaRue
Stephanie Ly
Jed Magen
Denny Martin
Michael Stokes
Adam Storts
Co-facilitators: Rebecca Malouin and Sean Valles
IC Liaison: Bethan Cantwell
This working group will develop recommendations for an accreditation-compliant framework for centers, institutes, divisions, and units across the Colleges of Human Medicine (CHM) and Osteopathic Medicine (COM) in support of the creation of MSU Medicine. Members will evaluate current organizational structures and explore opportunities for alignment to support collaboration, operational effectiveness, and academic excellence. The group will also develop recommendations for leadership structures, including the selection, appointment, evaluation, and oversight of directors and other unit leaders.
Emiko Blalock
Bob Cermak
Rebecca Knickmeyer
Sean McCarron
Kathleen Oberst
Kyle Poulsen
Mary Kay Smith
Ken Szymusiak
Josh Vincent
Co-facilitators: Kim Castle and Tony Frewen
IC Liaison: Candice Goerger
This working group will develop recommendations for a coordinated communications and marketing strategy that supports the creation of MSU Medicine and fosters clear, consistent, and transparent engagement across stakeholder groups. Members will help identify effective approaches for communicating with faculty, staff, students, alumni, patients, donors, and external partners, while ensuring messaging remains aligned across leadership, working groups, and operational teams. The group will also consider strategies for stakeholder engagement, brand positioning, website and digital communications, student communications, and change management communications that build understanding, trust, and support for the creation and future success of MSU Medicine.
Carlos Acevedo
Dalin Clark
Nathan Clark
Cheryl Eschbach
Sydney Hawkins
Terri Hughes-Lazzell
Kristofer Karol
Kimberly Lamacchia
Janet Lillie
Amy Nienhouse
Mary Jo Verhanovitz
Jill Vondrasek
Co-IC Liaisons: Dave Kaufman and Mark Smith
This working group will develop recommendations for the future organization, leadership, and governance of academic departments across the Colleges of Human Medicine (CHM) and Osteopathic Medicine (COM). Members will evaluate departmental structures and explore opportunities for alignment, integration, and collaboration while ensuring compliance with accreditation requirements established by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). The group will also consider departmental leadership models, faculty processes, reporting relationships, accountability structures, and other factors necessary to support a transparent, equitable, and academically excellent framework for MSU Medicine.
Kate Braden
Michael Brown
Mark C. DeLano
Bruce Dobey
Catherine Donahue
Keith English
Bethany Ford
Sky Foster
Joel Greenberg
Heather Laird Fick
Lisa Oliva
Karl Olson
Julie Phillips
Ann Sheehan
Jayne Ward
Co-facilitators: Natoshia Cunningham and Nathan Tykocki
IC Liaisons: Stacia Moroski-Rigney and Kara Yermak
This working group will develop recommendations for the governance framework that will guide leadership, decision-making, accountability, and academic oversight across MSU Medicine. Members will examine how authority and responsibility should be distributed among the Executive Dean, School Deans, departments, and faculty governance bodies to support effective leadership while ensuring compliance with the accreditation requirements of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). The group will also consider processes for faculty governance, departmental oversight, leadership appointments, and decision-making authority, with the goal of creating a transparent governance structure that preserves the distinct identities of the MD and DO programs while supporting the creation and success of MSU Medicine.
Charles Hong
Alison Jenner
John McGinnity
Lyman Mower
Adesuwa (Ade) Olomu
Amit Sachdev
Richard Sadler
Ayodele Webb
Bruce Wolf
Facilitator: Georgette Russell
IC Liaisons: Carol Parker and Kara Yermak
This working group will develop recommendations for the future workforce framework that supports MSU Medicine's academic, research, clinical, and operational missions. Members will examine faculty and staff organizational structures, appointment models, reporting relationships, workload expectations, and workforce policies to help ensure consistency, transparency, and long-term sustainability across the Colleges of Human Medicine (CHM) and Osteopathic Medicine (COM). The group will also consider faculty advancement processes, staff classification and compensation structures, organizational design, and alignment with institutional policies and collective bargaining agreements. The goal is to create an integrated workforce model that supports collaboration, equity, and operational excellence while meeting the evolving needs of MSU Medicine.
Theresa Couch
Debbie Hafke
John Hollenbeck
Shannon Kemp
Sarah Kovach
Jessie Ness
Toya Pruitt
Sandy Tran
Brooke-lynn Vij
David Walsworth
Co-facilitators: John Goudreau, Jack Lipton, Terrie Taylor
IC Liaisons: Anne Dorrance and Nara Parameswaran
This working group will develop recommendations for a coordinated research strategy that advances the mission of MSU Medicine by leveraging the complementary strengths of the Colleges of Human Medicine (CHM) and Osteopathic Medicine (COM). Members will explore opportunities to strengthen collaboration across basic, clinical, translational, and community-engaged research while preserving the unique research priorities and identities of each school. The group will consider how research infrastructure, faculty support, student opportunities, external partnerships, and funding strategies can be aligned to foster innovation, expand research impact, and support the continued growth of MSU Medicine as a leading academic health institution.
Jonathan Babbage
Charles Cox
Edmund Ellsworth
Maryam Goudarzi
Cathy Grysiewicz
Marianne Huebner
Allison Kuipers
Anna Moore
John Popovich
Mark Trottier
Co-facilitators: J'Aimee Lippert and Wanda Lipscomb
IC Liaison: Anissa Mattison
This working group will develop recommendations for how MSU Medicine can best support students throughout the learner lifecycle—from recruitment and admissions through graduation and placement—while respecting the distinct missions, accreditation requirements, educational approaches, and student populations of the Colleges of Human Medicine (CHM) and Osteopathic Medicine (COM). Members will examine opportunities to align student-facing functions where appropriate while preserving program-specific practices that are essential to the success of each degree program. The group will consider strategies related to recruitment, admissions, enrollment planning, financial aid, student services, and student success outcomes, with a focus on enhancing access, affordability, the student experience, and educational outcomes across MSU Medicine.
Debalina Bandyopadhyay
JJ (Jennifer) Ekkens
Amara Ezeamama
Amy Fowler
Amy Greenberg
Amber Heard-Booth
Cara Ludlow
Todd McHerron
Kim Peck
Sarah Weitz
Felicity White
Ana Lesage
Katherine Ruger