The inaugural Henry Ford + MSU Health Innovation Leadership Academy (HILA) cohort celebrated graduation on May 15 at the Henry Ford Innovation Institute. The event featured final team pitch presentations and marked the completion of the nine-month leadership development program.
“This has really been a fabulous experience — to take a break from our day-to-day and sit in a space where we are asked to think creatively,” said Anissa Mattison, D.O., MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine associate dean of strategic initiatives & operations.
HILA is a signature initiative of the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership focused on developing future leaders through the science of teamwork.
The inaugural cohort brougth together 24 participants, 12 from Henry Ford Health and 12 from Michigan State University. The graduates represented include a multidisciplinary group of physicians, researchers, professors and administrative leaders who gained a deeper understanding of the partnership and its potential through the program.
“I really started to understand the magnitude of this partnership and everything that’s happening at MSU,” said Allyce Caines, M.D., a transplant hepatologist and senior staff physician at Henry Ford Health, She said the program also created opportunities to collaborate with new colleagues and gain exposure to work outside her usual scope.
During the event, five teams presented projects addressing health care challenges. Their work focused on improving patient and community outcomes, supporting the clinicians, educators and staff who deliver care and train the next generation, and strengthening the Henry Ford + MSU partnership.
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“This experience of interacting with so many interesting, educated, informed people from Michigan State University has been a breath of fresh air,” said Cyrus Piraka, M.D., Henry Ford gastroenterologist. “It feels like it’s reactivated a part of my brain where I’m really excited to learn more and find out what other people are doing.”
Throughout the program, participants strengthened leadership skills while working across disciplines to address complex health care challenges.
“I learned what it takes to be a good leader, and what pitfalls to avoid,” said Sriram Kalyanaraman, Ph.D., MSU Communication Arts and Sciences College senior associate dean for research.
Co-leading the HILA program are Scott Dulchavsky, M.D., Ph.D., Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Committee co-chair; Christopher Contag, Ph.D., Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Committee co-chair; Vikas Relan, Academic and Innovation Partnerships manager at Henry Ford Innovations; James Adams, Education and Collaboration advisor at Henry Ford Innovations; and Dorothy Carter, Ph.D., associate professor in Michigan State University’s Department of Management.
“It’s been almost overwhelming in terms of the spirit in which this was put together,” said Kalyanaraman. “I don't think you could have asked for a better group of people who put this together.”
In addition to developing new skills, participants said the program helped build meaningful connections across both institutions that they expect will continue beyond the academy.
“We’re excited that even though the program is ending, our work can continue and come to fruition,” said Mattison.
The next HILA cohort will be announced in the coming months as the Henry Ford + MSU partnership continues to invest in leadership development, collaboration and innovation. For any questions about the leadership academy, contact henryfordmsu@msu.edu.