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. His responsibilities include implementing strategic priorities and ensuring the operational infrastructure and resources are in place to advance that mission. A three-time U-M alumnus, Comstock is also a faculty lecturer at the U-M School of Public Health, where he has taught accounting and other courses in the Department of Health Management and Policy for more than 15 years.

Comstock also contributes his time and expertise through various leadership service roles, both at U-M and nationally.

At this year's Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) spring meeting, Comstock concluded his 2025-26 term as national chair of the AAMC Group on Business Affairs (GBA). The post is the top leadership position for the GBA, and he was voted into the role by his peer Medical School principal business officers. As GBA chair, Comstock worked with colleagues across the country and with AAMC leadership to advance collaboration among institutions and strengthen the data, benchmarking and analytics that inform financial and operational decision-making in academic medicine.

During Comstock’s tenure, AAMC announced a restructuring of its professional member groups that will take effect July 1, 2026. As part of that transition, GBA will become the Finance and Business Affairs Affinity Group, reflecting a broader effort by AAMC to strengthen collaboration across leadership communities in academic medicine.

“Academic medicine is facing significant financial and operational pressures,” Comstock said. “One of the strengths of the AAMC community is the ability for institutions to share data, best practices and ideas so we can navigate those challenges together. It has been an honor to represent Michigan and work with colleagues across the country in that effort.”

Comstock’s tenure as national chair falls in the middle of a three-year commitment to the group, as he served as chair-elect in 2024-25. He will serve on the group's national steering committee for the next year as immediate past chair, helping guide the transition to the new structure and supporting the organization’s ongoing initiatives.

His leadership in the role highlights the Medical School's continued engagement in national academic medicine leadership and collaboration. Through service in organizations such as the AAMC, many U-M leaders contribute expertise, share best practices, and help shape the evolving operational and financial landscape of medical schools nationwide.

“Serving nationally allows us to bring Michigan's perspective to important conversations while also learning from the challenges and innovations taking place at peer institutions,” Comstock said. “That exchange of ideas makes us stronger as leaders and ultimately benefits the mission we serve at home.”

Amanda K. Thatcher, M.A., who worked alongside Comstock in the Medical School Dean's Office from 2016-21, is taking the reins of the newly renamed group. Thatcher, who currently serves as associate vice president for operations and strategic communications at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, assumes the national chair role in 2026-27.