2026 Stewardship Mid-Year Report

thank you

At Michigan Medicine, we recognize philanthropy as a driving force behind our ability to advance health care and improve lives. Our donors play an important role in shaping the course of our work and supporting our faculty, staff, and learners. The impact of this support reaches far beyond the walls of our hospitals and health centers by improving the quality of life of our patients and their families here in Michigan and around the world.

This report illustrates just some of the areas within Michigan Medicine that have been touched by your philanthropy over the past year.

We are grateful for each and every one of our donors. Together, we are advancing science and changing lives.

Advancing breast cancer treatment through groundbreaking research and precision medicine Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer globally, but researchers at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center are aggressively shifting the paradigm.

Driven by donor support, our dedicated experts are developing and utilizing some of the most advanced scientific techniques to improve patient outcomes.

One example of this is the use of MatchMiner, an AI-assisted tool designed to analyze tumor molecular data. Led by Eric Cobain, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, this tool has the ability to quickly determine if a patient is a match to a molecularly targeted clinical trial. Additional progress includes advances to stem celltargeted therapies and Patient-Derived Xenografts, a crucial cancer research model where a patient’s tumor tissue is implanted into immunocompromised mice, enabling our scientists to test multiple treatments in the mouse model before treating a patient, safely guiding personalized medicine.

read more about breast cancer research

50 years of generosity and reshaping pediatric care For over 50 years, the Mott Golf Classic has rallied the community to raise more than $10 million for pediatric medicine at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. This incredible milestone has transformed patient care from the inside out, funding essential, holistic environments where “Little Victors” and their families can heal.

From the soothing melodies of Sophie’s Place music therapy to the newly unveiled, tech-forward Michigan Game Day Experience playroom, these initiatives offer thousands of children a vital escape from the burdens of hospitalization.

Beyond the walls, the Mott Golf Classic Park provides patients, families, and healthcare staff a serene outdoor sanctuary to recharge.

read more about this annual event

Engineering the future of organ care Home to the largest and most experienced solid organ transplant program in the state, the Transplant Center at University of Michigan Health is pushing the boundaries of transplant medicine. With the help of donor support, our multidisciplinary teams are advancing research and providing individualized care that is essential to healing.

The Transplant Center Research Center prioritizes innovative research designed to benefit both current and future patients. This includes the work of Pratima Sharma, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and the inaugural Scientific Director of transplant research, to dismantle tenuous referral barriers for rural veterans.

Additionally, Nicholas Douville, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Program Director of anesthesiology is advancing his use of brain-monitoring fEEG technology to reduce surgical anesthesia risks. Across the Center, the team is involved in more than 30 clinical research studies designed to improve the understanding of transplantation and enhance outcomes for all patients.

Beyond the clinical space, donor generosity provides critical funding for patient programs such as Camp Michitanki, a one-week summer camp for pediatric transplant recipients, which offers a unique opportunity for healing and connection for some of the most vulnerable transplant patients and their families.

read more about transplant care

Life-changing support for medical students The U-M Medical School remains one of the premier medical education institutions in the nation. Donor support ensures that our students can make an impact in the areas of medicine they are most passionate about.

“My family and I continue to be grateful for your important financial support, and I look forward to the day that I can offer the same to future students. I’m beyond grateful for my time at U-M and all of the clinical pearls that have been shared with me along the way, and I look forward to carrying those lessons with me as the next chapter of my career approaches” - M4 Dean’s Annual Scholarship Recipient

Providing mental health support where it is needed most The Jenkins Family Community Outreach and Education Programs are committed to addressing and improving mental health within our community. This past year marked an exciting transformation as the program was named in recognition of a notable endowed gift. This milestone, made possible through the generosity and shared vision of donors, strengthens our foundation for sustained impact and builds momentum for our ongoing growth and success.

We are committed to offering a diverse range of evidence-based practices and programs tailored to meet the distinct needs of individuals throughout our community. Whether supporting students navigating academic pressures through the Peer-to-Peer Depression Awareness Program, veterans adjusting to campus life through Peer Advisors for Veteran Education, or working professionals facing workplace challenges through Workplace Mental Health Solutions, meaningful support has been provided to thousands of individuals in Michigan and beyond.

see the impact of the program

A full circle approach to Multiple Sclerosis and related conditions Affecting nearly one million people throughout the United States, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) presents complex physical and cognitive challenges, negatively impacting a patient’s quality of life. The Michigan Medicine Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology is bridging the gap between clinical research and the daily reality of patients through pioneering, patient driven science.

Led by Tiffany J. Braley, M.D., M.S., the HoltomGarrett Family Professor of Neurology and clinical neuroimmunologist, the teams are working to deploy innovative digital technologies to track symptoms “in the wild.” This groundbreaking study pairs Apple Watches with algorithms to detect real-time changes in sleep health, allowing for earlier clinical interventions. Other studies like CANSLEEP-MS, is researching how cannabinoids affect pain and sleep, while COMBOMS is providing the nation’s first look at tailoring behavioral and medication-based therapies to combat MS fatigue. Donor support allows our team to push the boundaries of knowledge and translate our findings into better care and hope for our patients.

read more about MS research

Growing cancer center expansion and continued partnerships at UM Health-West Since 2024, new patient visits at the University of Michigan Health-West Cancer Center have increased over 450%. The Cancer Center expanded last fall, opening a second dedicated building for hematology and cancer care near the existing UM Health-West Cancer Center. Tripling the exam room from eight to 23 rooms, the new center has allowed care teams to focus on solid tumor cancers and blood disorders, as well as genetics, high risk care, and neuro oncology and hematology. Since the opening, 2,093 new patients have been able to receive world-class care.

“We were nearly bursting at the seams in our present building. With support from the University of Michigan and our Foundation, we now have the capacity to serve more cancer patients, more quickly, with the same compassion and expertise our community deserves and trusts,” says Ronald Grifka, M.D., President of UM Health-West.