Tina L. Thompson, Ph.D.
MESSAGE FROM OUR INTERIM DEAN
The CMU College of Medicine had a robust 2024 academic year. We faced some significant changes, and we achieved some fantastic successes. Near the end of the year, I stepped into the role of interim dean after Dr. George Kikano concluded his decade-long tenure. I am honored to be moving the College forward alongside our dedicated faculty, staff and a plethora of outstanding community educators and clinical partners throughout the state. Together, we continue to serve our learners and our community with a passion for medicine and a deepening commitment to our mission.
In testament to our work, the College received national recognition in the most recent U.S. News & World Report and ranked among the top 20 medical schools in the country for three areas related directly to our foundational goals. Then, for the second year in a row, our graduating class achieved a 100% residency match rate. This is an exciting accomplishment that reflects the high caliber of our learners and the College’s excellent reputation as an educational institution.
We continued to strengthen our academic environment. The simulation center on the Mount Pleasant campus was one of just 19 simulation labs to earn an inaugural accreditation from the Association of Standardized Patient Educators. Beyond that, our faculty completed implementation of the StAGES curriculum across undergraduate medical education. This new structure gives our first- and secondyear students a smoother transition as they begin medical school and provides a more clinically relevant curriculum.
We are also building stronger connections with communities across Michigan. The Rural Health Excellence Institute opened an office in Traverse City to better serve our rural partners. Pulse3 hosted two successful community events in support of cardiovascular health and wellness, and our collaboration with the Central and Western Area Health Education Center continues to expand pipeline opportunities to students in middle and high school interested in a career in health care.
These achievements represent the hard work of many and provide a foundation for the years ahead. Thank you for your continued dedication. Together, we are moving the College forward with purpose and impact.
Sincerely,
Tina L. Thompson, Ph.D. Interim Dean CMU College of Medicine
COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION AND OUR ACCOMPLISHED LEADERS
The Central Michigan University College of Medicine earned a place among the top 20 medical schools in the country for placing graduates in rural areas and in health professional shortage areas, according to the 2025 US News & World Report. This is a tremendous and unprecedented accomplishment for a young medical school and the results are a strong indication that our graduates are living the mission instilled by their training.
The survey included 170 medical schools and showed an impressive increase in ranking over the College’s already remarkable results in 2024. The rankings moved from #43 to #20 for placing graduates in rural areas and jumped from #67 to #17 for placing graduates in health professional shortage areas. The College also maintained a high ranking of #52 for placing graduates into primary care positions.
A traditional White Coat Ceremony for the incoming Class of 2028 was held in August. The ceremony’s keynote speaker was CMU College of Medicine alum from the Class of 2019, Jacob S. Ghannam,
The graduating Class of 2025 celebrated Match Day in March. All 97 students placed in residency training programs around the country.
MATCH RATE for Class of 2025
Jr., M.D.
MICHIGAN Applicants Selected
CMU Graduates Enrolled
The College of Medicine graduated its ninth class in May. Commencement speakers included graduating student Max King and CMU College of Medicine alum from the Class of 2018, Nicholas Cozzi, M.D. The George E. and Mona Kikano Leadership in Medical Education Awards were also presented at the ceremony.
The faculty award was presented to Jesse Bakke, Ph.D., an associate professor of biochemistry. Bakke leads large group, team-based learning, and case-based learning sessions. His enthusiasm and creativity have motivated colleagues to work on collaborative research activities and led to several publications and major grant awards, which elevate the profile of the College and the University.
The staff award was given to Rebecca Bogin, who serves as the coordinator for longitudinal courses and assists with the delivery of the Essentials of Clinical Skills course. Bogin coordinates with community educators to provide the students with meaningful feedback and co-created the Initial Clinical Experience Preceptor Award to recognize clinicians who volunteer their time in support of the medical students.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, President Neil MacKinnon and Provost Paula Lancaster presented George Kikano, M.D., with a resolution approved by the CMU Board of Trustees which expressed appreciation and gratitude to Kikano for his significant contributions to the College during his tenure as dean. For his outstanding service and leadership, Kikano was granted dean emeritus and professor emeritus status effective May 16, 2025.
CMU Medical Education Partners celebrated its 55th residency graduation in June. The ceremony honored 49 physicians who successfully completed their residency and fellowship training in a range of medical specialties. Highlights of the evening included Covenant HealthCare awarding eight junior resident scholarship awards to individuals who have demonstrated quality, interest, and compassion towards patients. Additionally, MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw awarded seven awards to residents who exemplify outstanding citizenship, medical knowledge, and commitment to self-improvement.
COMMITTED TO OUTSTANDING MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
The newly implemented Student-centered curriculum for Academic Growth, Engagement, and Success (StAGES) is an innovative, active learning model for first– and second-year medical students. It utilizes team-based learning, small-group clinical cases and peer instruction to provide a smoother transition for students by integrating foundational science with clinical training and promoting a holistic approach to medicine.
The clinical curriculum consists of a structured third year including five hospital-based clerkships (hospital medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery) and a longitudinal integrated Comprehensive Community Clerkship in primary care. The fourth year offers more flexibility to explore clinical electives in addition to completing a required sub-internship and emergency medicine rotation.
As part of their inaugural accreditation process, the Association of Standardized Patient Educators granted full accreditation for human simulation to the standardized patient simulation lab on the College of Medicine’s Mount Pleasant campus. Only 19 simulation centers in the country were included in the initial accredited cohort.
The lab features 14 state-of-the-art simulated patient rooms, two of which are set up for high-fidelity manikin simulations. Trainings and interactions are monitored from two fully-equipped control rooms. While the center supports a wide variety of students and curricula, its main priority is delivering an instructional format that allows first- and second-year medical students to learn and practice history and physical exam skills as well as overall communication skills with live simulated patients in the Essentials of Clinical Skills longitudinal course.
Marilyn Haupt, M.D., a distinguished retired faculty member enhanced her legacy with a significant contribution that will benefit generations of medical students and researchers. This gift established the Marilyn T. Haupt, Chair in Medical Research and Marilyn T. Haupt Student Research Endowment to support student and faculty research opportunities. It will also provide significant discretionary funds to support the College’s growing portfolio of research endeavors and encourage the incorporation of medical students who wish to supplement their training and future careers with medical research.
Eric Petersen, Ph.D., assistant professor, earned a prestigious Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Institutes of Health for his research in developing bioluminescent sensors to study cell signaling events. The goal of Petersen’s work is to develop novel indicators and genetic circuits that address the limitations of current technologies and enable non-invasive reporting and dynamic control of cell signaling events for basic science research relevant to a variety of different diseases and biological processes.
Julien Rossignol, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and neuroscience, was presented with the President’s Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity for his research on nanoparticle delivery of therapeutics to treat neurological diseases. As part of his work, Rossignol has published several peer-reviewed papers. He has trained dozens of graduate and undergraduate learners, resulting in more than 85 research presentations.
Neli Ragina, Ph.D., assistant dean for graduate and undergraduate research, was chosen for the 2025 fellowship program with the International FAIMER Institute. The opportunity to join the fellowship program is awarded to exceptional educators committed to enhancing health care education worldwide. From more than 170 applicants, Ragina was one of only 22 health professionals selected for this prestigious fellowship.
COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE AND WELLNESS
The Pulse3 Endowment for Community Cardiovascular Health has raised more than $1 million in support of initiatives that include supporting HEARTSafe schools, expanding CPR training, and placing AEDs in schools and community buildings which allow the general public to provide immediate assistance to someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. These endeavors have helped save more than 20 lives.
Pulse3 now hosts two annual fundraising sporting events. The Shocks and Saves hockey game is in its seventeenth year and raised over $40,000 in 2025. The Hearts & Paddles pickleball tournament grew by nearly 300% in just its second year and raised more than $30,000. Proceeds from these events support cardiovascular wellness programs and research endeavors in the region.
The Rural Health Excellence Institute serves as a collaborative partner for several rural health initiatives and programs that aim to improve medical access throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region and across the state.
The RHEI partnered with the Sterling Area Health Center, local school districts, parents and other community partners to equip two school-based health centers to provide health care services to children aged 3 to 21 in Arenac, Bay, Iosco and Ogemaw counties.
They also partnered with Traverse Connect, Munson Healthcare, DroneUp and blueflite to establish a rural drone delivery system that could transform medical deliveries in remote communities. The project was initially awarded $689,500 and has now received an additional $950,000 in grant funding from Michigan’s Advanced Aerial Mobility Activation Fund, a collaboration between the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
The Central and Western Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is housed within the College of Medicine and collaborates with CMU medical and health professions programs to establish a pipeline for future health care professionals and provide training for learners and medical providers throughout the state.
New this year, AHEC hosted the Hands on Health simulation event for high school students from Huron, Isabella, Lapeer, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties at the Covenant HealthCare Simulation Center at the College of Medicine’s Saginaw Education Building. AHEC also launched a new Public Health Pathways program, in partnership with the College of Medicine and the Herbert H. and Grace A.Dow College of Health Professions, geared towards 9th to 11th grade high school students from Isabella, Clare, Gratiot and Montcalm counties.
Additionally, AHEC partnered with the CMU Rural Health Excellence Institute, Michigan Center for Rural Health, and McLaren Central Michigan to present a Human Trafficking Educational Webinar Series. Offered for free, this threepart virtual series was designed to strengthen awareness, action plans and knowledge on the fight against human trafficking.
Steven Vance, M.D., associate dean of Clinical Education, was presented with the Richard Calley Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his efforts to make the Great Lakes Bay region a healthier, more resilient community through improved cardiovascular education and wellness programming.
Mohammad Jafferany, M.D., professor of psychiatry, at was presented with the Distinguished Fellowship award by the American Psychiatric Association for his significant contributions to the psychiatric profession. Distinguished Fellow is the highest membership honor awarded by the APA.
George E. Kikano, M.D., was recognized as a Notable Leader in Health Care by Crain’s Detroit and as a Physician of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Michigan while serving as dean of the College during the 2024-25 academic year.
MISSION
The Central Michigan University College of Medicine educates diverse students and trains culturally competent physicians to provide comprehensive health care and services to underserved populations in Michigan and beyond. Our faculty, staff and graduates advance health and wellness through exceptional education, innovative research, quality patient care and strategic collaborations to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
VISION
We will realize our bold vision by producing future generations of well-trained physicians, developing new solutions from innovative research, improving access to high-quality health care and forging strategic partnerships to build thriving communities and better lives for all people in Michigan.
CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight. 21577 MGX (9/25)
Medical Education
MOUNT PLEASANT CAMPUS
1280 East Campus Drive
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
989-774-7547
SAGINAW CAMPUS
1632 Stone Street
Saginaw, MI 48602
989-746-7504
Clinical Training
COVENANT HEALTHCARE
700 Cooper Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
HENRY FORD ST. JOHN HOSPITAL
22101 Moross Road Detroit, MI 48236
MYMICHIGAN MEDICAL CENTER SAGINAW
800 S. Washington Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48601
MYMICHIGAN MEDICAL CENTER MIDLAND
4000 Wellness Drive
Midland, MI 48670
COREWELL HEALTH LAKELAND HOSPITAL 1234 Napier Avenue St. Joseph, MI 49085