Dr. Michele Heisler Named Kutsche Memorial Research Professor of Internal Medicine

Michele Heisler, MD, MPA, professor of internal medicine in the Division of General Medicine and professor of health behavior and health equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, has been honored with the Kutsche Memorial Research Professorship of Internal Medicine. 

Established in May 2022, the Kutsche Memorial Research Professorship in Internal Medicine honors the memory of John T. Kutsche, MD, and Estelle K. Kutsche, whose generosity created a legacy of healing and inquiry at the University of Michigan. The professorship is intended to support a faculty member within the Division of General Medicine for up to five years, enabling them to advance their work in internal medicine.

Dr. Heisler’s path to medicine was shaped by a commitment to social justice. Before earning her medical degree at Harvard Medical School, she worked across Latin America and the Caribbean as a program officer for the Ford Foundation and Catholic Relief Services. She then completed her internship and residency here at the University of Michigan, and soon after becoming faculty rose to the rank of tenure professor in the Department of Internal Medicine while holding a joint appointment as professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Equity. Dr. Heisler also serves as co-director of the Michigan Center for Diabetes Translation Research, the IDEAA Committee, and as medical director for the Physicians for Human Rights, a national nonprofit based in New York. 

Dr. Heisler has dedicated her research to developing programs that help those with conditions like type 2 diabetes and overcome barriers that make it hard for people, especially low-income and minority groups, to maintain healthy habits. Her research has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), American Diabetes Association, among others, and has resulted in impactful programs that proactively support patients with their doctor visits and address gaps in their care. These programs have been widely adopted by healthcare providers and insurance plans. Dr. Heisler is currently studying programs that encourage healthy living through peer support and healthy food initiatives. 

In recognition of her leadership and advocacy in healthcare, Dr. Heisler has authored over 300 peer-reviewed studies in prestigious journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, and The American Journal of Public Health. She is also an elected member of the Association of American Physicians and the National Academy of Medicine.

“Dr. Heisler’s commitment to healthcare extends beyond research into mentorship, and she has spent many years training the healthcare leaders of tomorrow,” says Timothy Blackwell, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. “Given her exemplary record of success and her accomplishments in improving healthcare delivery, I know Dr. Heisler’s impact on the practice of internal medicine will continue to grow. She is an exceptional mentor, researcher, and clinician, and is an ideal fit for this prestigious professorship.” 

Dr. Heisler joins former mentor, Eve Kerr, MD, professor and chief of the Division of General Medicine, and mentee, Jeffrey Kullgren, MD, MS, MPH, associate professor in the Division of General Medicine, in this endowment, adding to their impactful work in primary care and health equity and continuing the legacy of Dr. Kutsche. 

“It is deeply meaningful to receive a professorship in honor of Dr. Kutsche, a primary care physician who exemplified such compassion and integrity,” says Dr. Heisler. “I’m gratified to share this endowment with my friends Eve and Jeff and I hope to use this gift to continue creating programs that support healthy behaviors, particularly among those facing barriers to care, and mentor students who are passionate about primary care and want to make a difference through education and advocacy.” 

To learn more about Dr. Heisler’s research, click here.