Class Notes: Spring 2025
80s
David Hinkamp, MPH ’80, Epidemiology, became president-elect of the Performing Arts Medicine Association last summer in London. After launching health programs with prominent Chicago blues musicians in the 1980s, Hinkamp founded the Health in the Arts Program at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health in 1999.
Robin Peyson, MHSA ’80, Health Management & Policy, was published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice: “Eradicating Substance Use Stigma Through Community Power,” September/October 2024.
Marilyn Woolfolk, MPH ’82, Public Health Dentistry, professor emerita of Dentistry and assistant dean emerita of Student Services, was selected by the School of Dentistry’s Board of Governors as the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the School of Dentistry and the profession. Provost Laurie McCauley and former dean of the School of Dentistry introduced and presented her the award along with Jacques Nors, dean of the School of Dentistry.
Richard Meetz, MS ’88, Clinical Research Design & Statistical Analysis, is a clinical professor emeritus at Indiana University. He recently gave a talk titled “Emerging Infectious Diseases” at the American Academy of Optometry.
90s
Richard Weston, PhD ’94, Health Management & Policy, and Marti Weston recently made the public health pilgrimage to the John Snow pump on Broadwick Street in London. They also enjoyed lunch and a pint at the adjacent John Snow Pub, where Rich signed the epidemiology-public health guestbook, available on request behind the upstairs bar in the John Snow room: “Great fun for any SPH graduate,” he wrote.
Nicole (Hall) Kirksey, MPH ’95, Health Behavior & Health Education, was named senior trainer and program coach for a multi-million-dollar, industry-leading global women’s business training organization championing income equity. A seasoned professional, Kirksey previously spent 17 years as a nonprofit executive and more than a decade as an adjunct professor in health management and first-year education.
00s
David C. Miller, MD, MPH ’05, Epidemiology, will become the University of Michigan’s executive vice president for medical affairs and chief executive officer of Michigan Medicine on July 1.
Miller—a urologist, a surgeon and a nationally recognized expert in urological oncology, quality improvement and health services research—currently is the executive vice dean of clinical affairs for the Medical School and president of U-M Health. He oversees all aspects of strategic, operational, clinical, cultural and financial performance for Michigan Medicine’s clinical enterprise, including nearly 2,000 physicians and 140 clinics at 40 sites within the health system.
The appointment was approved by the Board of Regents Sept. 19. Miller will succeed Marschall S. Runge, who has served as executive vice president for medical affairs and Michigan Medicine CEO since March 2015 and dean of the Medical School since January 2016.
“Dr. Miller is an extraordinary leader, a brilliant researcher and the kind of doctor we all hope for when we need exemplary care,” U-M President Santa J. Ono said. “His robust clinical background, his collaborative and empathic approach, his understanding of the intricacies of patient care, and his strong strategic vision make him the clear choice for this important leadership role.
“I am confident he will continue to drive innovation and improvements to ensure Michigan Medicine continues to be a beacon of research, teaching, learning and healing far into the future.”
Heather Lanthorn, MPH ’07, Health Behavior & Health Education, recently accepted the role of associate director of Research and Programs at the Duke Global Health Innovation Center in Durham, North Carolina. She also just completed serving as the senior advisor to the Clarity Foundation, launching a new pro-vaccine campaign Feb. 15 in British Columbia.
10s
Madelyn Van Tassel, MHSA ’10, Health Management & Policy, was named to the Crain’s Detroit Business “40 under 40” list in October. Van Tassel is the system vice president and executive director of the Cancer Service Line for Henry Ford Health.
Kory Moore Luther, MPH ’13, Health Behavior & Health Education, is the founder of Metanoia, a public health workforce development company in Colorado. Luther wanted to offer some words of encouragement: “Reliable leadership through unreliable circumstances matters. Connecting creatively with colleagues across disciplines, belief systems and differences requires conscious choices to invest in compassion. Show up for each other.”
20s
Cristian Casanova, MHI ’21, Informatics, has worked at Accenture in San Francisco for more than three years as a data and AI strategy consultant. He also holds leadership roles at the World Economic Forum as a curator for the Global Shapers Community in Palo Alto, California. Last summer, Casanova attended the World Economic Forum’s annual leadership summit in Geneva alongside more than 500 curators across 160 countries in a three-day session to promote the work the forum is doing in global health and improving health equity across developed and developing countries.
Riley Bennett, BA ’22, Community & Global Public Health, recently graduated from the CDC’s Public Health Associate Program, a competitive two-year training fellowship for recent public health graduates.
Rana Chouaib, BS ’22, Public Health Sciences, is an MD candidate at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Fatema Dohadwala, BS ’23, Public Health Sciences, took a gap year after graduating to experience the joys of traveling to many new places around the world. One of her favorite opportunities was hiking an active volcano in Guatemala. Last
summer, she began her studies at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.
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