Kevin C. Bergquist
Bergquist is the internal communication strategist in the executive vice president for medical affairs/dean’s office in Michigan Medicine Administration. He develops internal and external communications programs and materials for Medical School initiatives, and provides communications, administrative and project support to Medical School operations, which includes the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication. Bergquist has a B.S. in communications from Illinois State University and a M.A. in communications from Eastern Michigan University.
Medical School News
Medical School’s Lori J. Pierce, MD, named Distinguished University Professor
Medical School professor Lori J. Pierce, M.D., is one of six U-M faculty members recognized for their outstanding teaching and service with one of the university’s most prestigious honors: the Distinguished University Professorship. Each professorship bears a name determined by the appointed professor in consultation with their dean. Pierce is the Allen S. Lichter Distinguished University Professor of Radiation Oncology.
Medical School News
Michigan Medicine to host inaugural Learning Health System Summit on Oct. 9
The Michigan Medicine Learning Health System Summit on Oct. 9 will bring together leaders, clinicians, researchers, educators, staff, and learners from across the organization to explore what it will take to fully realize the vision.
Medical School News
Renuka Tipirneni, MD, MSc, picked for prestigious health policy fellowship
A general internal medicine physician who has devoted her career to studying how health policy decisions affect patients like hers nationwide will spend the next year advising policymakers in Washington, D.C. directly, through a prestigious national fellowship. Renuka Tipirneni, M.D., M.Sc., an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, was selected by the National Academy of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as one of eight RWJF Health Policy Fellows for 2026-2027.
Medical School News
Susan Murphy, Sc.D., OTR, named UMMS faculty chair-elect for women’s careers
Susan Murphy, Sc.D., OTR, FAOTA, a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and internal medicine, and research professor in the Institute of Gerontology, has been appointed faculty chair-elect for women’s careers in the Medical School. The chair-elect is one of several Medical School roles that focus on the advancement — and overall thriving — of women pursuing careers in academic medicine and science at Michigan Medicine. Murphy will become chair-elect in January 2027, serve as faculty chair in 2028-29, and after her term is complete, she will serve in an advisory role as post-chair in 2030-31.
Medical School News
Swap and shop events help laboratories donate and find valuable supplies
The Medical School is helping researchers save money and reduce waste by connecting laboratories with surplus supplies to those that can put them to immediate use. At three Lab Swap events held in the spring, more than 100 participants donated and “shopped” for valuable laboratory supplies at Medical Science Research Building 2, North Campus Research Complex, and A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Science Research Building. The events rehomed more than 3,500 pounds of lab supplies, with a value of nearly $115,000.
Medical School News
Voting victories: Medical School Vice Dean Edje enjoys election wins at AMA meeting
Louito C. Edje, M.D., MHPE, FAAFP, the Medical School’s vice dean for medical education, emerged victorious in elections on two fronts at the recent American Medical Association (AMA) meeting in Chicago, including chair-elect of the AMA Council on Medical Education
Medical School News
Service appointment: Medical School COO shares his time, expertise outside of U-M
In his role as Medical School Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director for Administration, Matthew C. Comstock, MBA, MHSA, oversees the administrative ecosystem that supports the school's mission of education, research, and patient care. He also contributes his time and expertise through various leadership service roles, both at U-M and nationally.
Medical School News
When a ‘loser’ is a winner: Taubman Library honored for energy conservation
A University of Michigan building on the medical campus was recently honored as a “Biggest Loser” in a statewide competition. That designation, however, is a good thing. On May 14 at the Michigan Energy Summit in Lansing, the Michigan Green Building Collaborative named the U-M’s A. Alfred Taubman Health Sciences Library a 2025 winner in the education category of its Battle of the Buildings competition that recognizes outstanding energy conservation.
Medical School News
Nearly 200 University of Michigan Medical School faculty earn promotions
On May 21, the University of Michigan Board of Regents approved promotions for 191 Medical School faculty members. Their new appointments take effect Sept. 1, 2026.
Medical School News
Look to Leadership column: When education becomes care
Every person who has ever taught a future healthcare professional will one day, in all likelihood, become a patient. It is one of the quiet truths of health professions education that the work of teaching is never purely academic. It ripples forward in ways we cannot always see, shaping the hands and minds that will one day care for us, our families and our communities.
Medical School News
Branching out: NCRC tree-planting ceremony celebrates Earth Day/Week
On April 22, officially Earth Day, members of Medical School Facilities, U-M Health Sustainability, U-M Custodial and Grounds Services, and interested occupants of the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) gathered for a ceremonial tree-planting ceremony. Grounds Services staff helped to plant a pair of tulip trees in the lawn just north of Building 10 at NCRC.
Medical School News
Ruma Banerjee, PhD, among 3 U-M faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences
Three University of Michigan professors — Ruma Banerjee, Nancy Burns and Elizaveta (Liza) Levina— are among 120 new members elected into the National Academy of Sciences for distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Those elected bring the total number of active members to 2,705 and international members to 557, of which 25 were chosen this year.
Medical School News
Kanakadurga Singer, MD, MA, appointed Associate Dean for Faculty
Kanakadurga (Durga) Singer, M.D., M.A., has been appointed associate dean for faculty in the Medical School, effective April 1, 2026. The provost has provided interim approval of this appointment, and it will be reported at the May Board of Regents meeting.
Medical School News
Maya M. Hammoud, MD, MBA, appointed Assistant Dean for Faculty, Clinical Track
Maya M. Hammoud, MD, MBA, has been appointed assistant dean for faculty, clinical track in the Medical School, effective May 11, 2026. In this role, she will provide leadership as part of the Office of Faculty Affairs on the oversight of clinical track faculty appointments, promotions, and advancement in the Medical School.
Medical School News
Dr. Sanjay Gupta to serve as 2026 Medical School Commencement speaker
University of Michigan and Medical School alumnus and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta, M.D., will deliver the 2026 Commencement address. The ceremony will be 3-5 p.m. on May 15 in Hill Auditorium.
