Medical school committees are an integral component of shared governance that includes the Dean, senior leadership team, the Faculty Academic Council, the Student Council, the Staff Advisory Council, and standing committees.
Leadership Committees
- Faculty Academic Council
The primary responsibility of Faculty Academic Council is to represent all faculty at large by representing the will and opinion of the faculty on the issues and activities of importance to the welfare of the medical school. The complete charge to the Faculty Academic Council is described in the Faculty Policy Manual.
Chair: Shamsi Berry, PhD
- Medical Student Council
The charge of the Medical Student Council is to represent all medical students in all four years to: communicate the needs and opinions of the medical student body to faculty and administration; facilitate medical student contributions to the development of certain school policies and administrative matters that affect medical students throughout their four years at the medical school; consult with the associate dean for Student Affairs to make recommendations for medical student members on medical school committees and recommend amendments to the Medical Student Policy Manual.
- Senior Leadership Team
The charge of the Senior Leadership Team is to collaboratively develop and implement effective strategies for medical education, clinical care, research, community service, economic stewardship, and culture across the medical school that transform the medical school mission, vision, and values into day-to-day operations.
Chair: Robert G. Sawyer, MD
- Staff Advisory Council
The primary responsibility of Staff Advisory Council is to represent the will and opinion of non-executive staff on the issues and activities of importance to the welfare of the medical school. The charter for the Staff Advisory Council, including its responsibilities, is available on the WMed Portal.
Chairs: Julia Young and Patricia Curtis
Standing Committees
- Affiliates Committee
The charge of the Affiliates Committee is to support implementation of the Affiliation Agreements by providing guidance for the clinical activities of the medical school and its practice plan, and the educational and research activities that are in collaboration with Ascension Borgess, Bronson Healthcare, and Western Michigan University.
Chair: Robert G. Sawyer, MD
- Appointment and Promotion Committee
The charge of the Appointment and Promotion Committee is to oversee the appointment and promotion process at the medical school, and to provide recommendations to the dean for core faculty appointments and promotions at the ranks of associate professor and professor, and adjunct faculty appointments at the rank of professor. The committee provides reports to the Faculty Academic Council regarding faculty appointments and promotions, and implements the criteria for appointment and promotion.
Chair: Parker Crutchfield, PhD
- Continuing Education Committee
The charge of the Continuing Education Committee is to advise the assistant dean for Continuing Education, assist with ongoing review and assessment including the annual report of continuing education activities of the medical school, and assure compliance of medical school policies and procedures related to continuing education with national standards and regulatory requirements. The committee may assist with resolving any issue related to joint sponsorship and joint accreditation.
Chair: Mike Busha, MD
- Culture Committee
The charge of the Culture Committee is to develop and support initiatives to create an inspiring environment to learn, teach, and work that embodies the values and the values in action of the medical school. The Committee makes recommendations and advises the senior leadership team on culture‑related opportunities and plans. The Committee fosters collaboration across medical school departments, units, and committees to better integrate and prioritize institutional resources focused on shaping and enhancing a welcoming and supportive culture. The Committee membership includes members from groups that have been historically under‑represented in medicine. The Committee gathers input and engages key stakeholders through an equity lens using focus groups from internal and external stakeholders.
Chair: Karen Horneffer-Ginter, PhD
- Curriculum Committee
The charge of the Curriculum Committee is the responsibility for development and oversight of a competency-based education, using a course-based approach, that the medical school uses to graduate knowledgeable, ethical, and skilled physicians who will become outstanding clinicians, leaders, educators, advocates, and researchers. The Curriculum Committee has integrated institutional responsibility for leading, directing, coordinating, controlling, and reporting all aspects of the design, management, and improvement of a coherent and coordinated curriculum. Curriculum design includes planning and establishing the objectives, structure, pedagogy, and content. Curriculum management includes all aspects of content delivery and evaluation. Curriculum improvement includes all levels of continuing cycles of improving instructors, courses, and the curriculum. As such, all courses, clerkships, content, teaching styles, educational innovations, clinical and research experiences and other educational endeavors are part of the curriculum and fall under the responsibility of the Curriculum Committee. The committee is empowered to work in the best interests of the students and the medical school without regard to parochial or political influences, or departmental pressures. Faculty members must constitute the majority of voting members at all meetings.
Co-Chairs: Erik Larson, PhD, and Andrew Luciano, MD
- Global Health Committee
The charge of the Global Health Committee is to cultivate interest and identify opportunities for medical students, residents, faculty, and staff to learn about global health issues and participate in international health experiences.
Chair: Tom Melgar, MD
- Graduate Medical Education Committee
The charge for the Graduate Medical Education Committee is to oversee, in collaboration with the Designated Institutional Official, all educational and clinical aspects of resident education and training at the medical school. The committee establishes institutional policies and approves all policies affecting graduate medical education and training and oversees all matters regarding accreditation and related matters.
Chair: David Overton, MD
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The charge of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is to establish and facilitate institutional policies and provide oversight of facilities and programs to ensure the appropriate care, use, and humane treatment of all research, educational, and other activities involving animals at, under the auspices of, or using the resources or services of the medical school. Animal-related activities are reviewed by IACUC members who are sufficiently qualified through experience and expertise. The medical school is a Public Health Service-assured institution and must meet Federal regulations stipulated by the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the National Institutes of Health. The IACUC shall evaluate activities involving animals in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, institutional commitments and guidelines, and standards of professional conduct and practice. The IACUC must be comprised of at least five different members including a veterinarian, scientist, nonscientist, nonaffiliated member, and at least one additional member. Animal care and use policies, including vivarium policies, are under the authority and responsibility of the assistant dean for Laboratory Animal Resources in collaboration with the associate dean for Research and the IACUC.
Chair: John Spitsbergen, PhD
- Institutional Biosafety Committee
The charge of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is to establish and facilitate institutional policies and provide oversight to ensure that all research, educational, clinical, and other activities at or under the auspices of the medical school provide for the safe use of, and protection of all individuals from, biohazards, radiation and radioactive materials, chemicals, biological materials (eg, infectious agents), and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules that entail potential risks to humans, animals, or the environment. IBC oversight applies to all activities regardless of performance site and funding source using any medical school facilities, property, services, or resources; or conducted by, with, or under the direction of any employee or agent of the medical school, including faculty and students, in connection with their medical school responsibilities. The IBC shall evaluate activities in accordance with the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules, applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, institutional commitments and guidelines, and standards of professional conduct and practice. The members of the IBC must broadly represent expertise in the use of biological reagents, radiation and radioactive materials, chemicals, biological materials, and recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules that are used in research, educational, clinical, and other activities. The IBC must be comprised of at least five different members per federal regulations; however, members are able to satisfy more than one role on the IBC. The IBC serves as the Institutional Biosafety Committee as required under the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules. Biosafety policies, including the Biosafety Policy Manual, are under the authority and responsibility of the assistant dean for Research Compliance in collaboration with the associate dean for Research and the IBC.
Chair: Nichol Holodick, PhD
- Institutional Review Board
The charge of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to establish and facilitate institutional policies and provide oversight to ensure that all research involving human subjects at, under the auspices of, or using the resources or services of the medical school are reviewed by IRB members who are sufficiently qualified through experience and expertise. The IRB shall evaluate research involving human subjects in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, institutional commitments and guidelines, and standards of professional conduct and practice. The IRB must have at least five members with varying backgrounds to promote complete and adequate review of the research activities involving human subjects commonly conducted at the medical school. However, members are able to satisfy more than one role within the committee. Human research protection program policies, including the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) Policy Manual, are under the authority and responsibility of the assistant dean for Research Compliance in collaboration with the associate dean for Research and the IRB.
Chair: Parker Crutchfield, PhD
- Medical Student Admissions Committee
The charge of the Medical Student Admissions Committee is to select medical students who will excel in our curriculum and graduate successfully to become outstanding clinicians, leaders, educators, advocates, and researchers. The Medical Student Admissions Committee seeks to identify and select students from among the categories of specific groups identified by the medical school that add value to the learning and working environment. The Medical Student Admissions Committee evaluates applicants and makes the final binding decisions regarding acceptance of applicants. These decisions are not appealable to the dean, board of directors, or any other party. All of the Medical Student Admissions Committee meetings are closed meetings and all deliberations are confidential. Faculty members must constitute the majority of voting members at all meetings of the Medical Student Admissions Committee. The Medical Student Admissions Committee reports its decisions to the associate dean for Student Affairs.
Chair: Peter Vollbrecht, PhD
- Medical Student Performance Committee
The charge of the Medical Student Performance Committee is to oversee progress of students in achieving and maintaining academic excellence, academic honesty, and professionalism. The Medical Student Performance Committee establishes criteria for determination of satisfactory performance for advancement, promotion, and graduation and establishes consistent standards for assessing student performance, evaluating students, assigning grades, and correcting academic deficiencies of medical students. The committee makes recommendations to the associate dean for Educational Affairs regarding academic standing of medical students and assigns remediation and corrective actions for students experiencing difficulty with academic coursework or professional and personal conduct. The associate dean for Educational Affairs is responsible for implementing the decisions and corrective actions required by the Medical Student Performance Committee. Remediation and corrective actions are typically implemented in the form of a learning contract for the student by the associate dean for Educational Affairs, who provides periodic reports of student progress on Learning Contracts to the Medical Student Performance Committee. Faculty members must constitute the majority of voting members at all meetings.
Chair: Laura Bauler, PhD
- Research Committee
The charge of the Research Committee is to: assist and advise the associate dean for Research in oversight of research efforts and research strategic planning; assist in addressing critical research issues; assist in developing research policies and procedures; advance research compliance by establishing requirements and facilitating training; advance scholarly activities as part of the educational experience; advise on the scientific review, human subject research review, animal research review, and institutional biosafety processes; advise on the intellectual property processes; promote and facilitate faculty research and success; and promote efforts for student and resident participation in research and scholarly activities; organize and sponsor the annual research day; collaborate to organize and sponsor other activities that highlight research; and foster collaborative and interdisciplinary/interprofessional research efforts of faculty with other investigators outside the medical school.
Chair: Gregory Vanden Heuvel, PhD
- Student Appeals Committee
The charge of the Student Appeals Committee is to hear and review appeals from students of: a decision by the Medical Student Performance Committee of advancement, graduation, suspension, or dismissal; final action of a misconduct process; and a decision of the associate dean for Student Affairs to refuse to permit a student to return from an approved leave of absence.
Chair: Michael Leinwand, MD
- Student Scholarship Committee
The charge of the Student Scholarship Committee is to oversee the process for awarding all medical school scholarships and financial awards. The committee publicizes scholarship and financial award opportunities and information to students and faculty, and oversees announcements of scholarship and financial award recipients. Faculty members must constitute the majority of voting members at all meetings.
Chair: Christine Pink, PhD
Additional Administrative Committees
- Compliance Committee
The charge of the Compliance Committee is to assist the Compliance Officer who is responsible for operation and monitoring of the Compliance Program. The committee reviews and make recommendations concerning any reports of noncompliance.
Chair: Lori Straube
- Facilities Committee
The charge of the Facilities Committee is to oversee buildings and facilities to ensure appropriate use, physical safety, and security.
Chair: Drake Olson
- Library Committee
The charge of the Library Committee is to serve in a consultative and advisory capacity to the dean and associate dean for Administration and Finance; work with and assist the Library Director in making recommendations for library use, practices and procedures; review and advise in the development of priorities and provide recommendations for allocation of resources to ensure that the printed and electronic resources and services provided by the library meet the current and future needs and interests of the academic community.
Chair: Elizabeth Lorbeer
- Strategic Planning Leadership Team
The medical school leadership – the dean, associate and assistant deans, department chairs and co-chairs, program chiefs and co-chiefs, residency program directors, administrative directors, assistant directors, select managers, division chiefs, the chair and vice chair of the Faculty Academic Council, and chairs of all standing committees – comprise the Strategic Planning Leadership Team. This team represents all components and activities of the medical school and is responsible for leading the medical school’s strategic planning process.
Chair: Michele Serbenski
Additional Educational Committees
- Accommodations Committee
The charge of the Accommodations Committee is to evaluate and determine whether applicants and students meet the Technical Standards for the medical school curriculum, and if not, to define the reasonable accommodations tailored to their individual needs and circumstances that would allow them, if practicable, to meet the Technical Standards. The Accommodations Committee reviews the Technical Standards for Completion of the Medical Curriculum annually and as needed.
Chair: Maria Sheakley, PhD
- Biomedical Sciences Workgroup
The Biomedical Sciences Workgroup is charged with oversight of the Foundations of Medicine curriculum, following the guiding principles of the curriculum and meeting the relevant educational competencies, including all of those in the basic sciences, of the curriculum as directed by the Curriculum Committee.
Chair: David Riddle, PhD
- Chief Residents Committee
The charge of the Chief Residents Committee is to update residents of operational, clinical, and educational related matters that affect their work, responsibilities, or programs, and serve as a formal forum for residents to raise concerns with medical school leadership.
Chair: David Overton, MD
- Clinical Applications Workgroup
The Clinical Applications Workgroup is charged with oversight of the Clinical Applications curriculum, following the guiding principles of the curriculum and meeting the relevant educational competencies, including all of those in the clinical sciences, of the curriculum as directed by the Curriculum Committee.
Chair: Kathryn Redinger, MD
- Integration Subcommittee
The Integration Subcommittee is responsible for oversight of the course/clerkship committees, mapping of curriculum content and assessments, curriculum calendaring with a focus on horizontal integration, design and implementation of the course/clerkship evaluation process, vertical integration, agenda setting for the Curriculum Committee, and program evaluation for the MD program.
Chair: Mike Busha, MD
- Interprofessional Education and Practice Workgroup
The Interprofessional Education and Practice Workgroup is responsible for integration of the longitudinal interprofessional curriculum in collaboration with community partners.
Chair: Kristine Gibson, MD
Additional Research Committees
- Intellectual Property Committee
The charge of the Intellectual Property Committee is to oversee the policies and process for intellectual property identification and development, provide recommendations for managing intellectual properties and rights on behalf of the medical school, and foster research efforts that will enhance creation of intellectual properties.
Chair: Robert G. Sawyer, MD