In an exciting development for health science education, Michigan Medicine RISE has unveiled the latest group of innovators for its Cohort 6. These individuals are set to begin their journey in the Innovator Development Program (IDP) starting January 2026. This announcement brings fresh perspectives into the arena of health education innovation.
The Innovator Development Program spans a full year, aiming to nurture innovative talents within health science education. Participants engage through monthly workshops and become part of the RISE community of practice, receiving coaching to hone their Health Science Education Innovation competencies. The program encourages these innovators to pilot their interventions, applying newfound skills to real-world challenges.
Kneff Chang
The IDP is designed for those looking for development in innovation competencies, intervention support, and FTE funding. Applications for the next cohort will open in spring 2026 and are available to all faculty, staff, and learners at Michigan Medicine. The program encourages candidates from various health professions within the institution.
Meet the Cohort 6 Members
Alejandra Arango
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Alejandra Arango, aims to enhance clinician preparedness in handling youth suicide risk. Her project includes developing a curriculum informed by research that uses experiential learning and competency evaluation to guide clinicians in crisis situations.
Mary Haas
Mary Haas, a Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, is set to create a curriculum for professional identity formation aimed at early medical students. This intervention, co-facilitated by senior peers, leverages case scenarios and discussions to foster a safe learning community.
Michelle Kees
Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Michelle Kees, will focus on enhancing mental health literacy among medical students through a series of microlearning videos. These videos incorporate reflection prompts and self-assessment to support student well-being and engaged learning.
Tonya Kneff-Chang
Lecturer Tonya Kneff-Chang plans to integrate a historical tour of Michigan Medicine into the learning environment using an ArcGIS digital story map. The intervention seeks to enhance critical consciousness and reflective practice through experiential exploration and structured discourse.
Catherine McDermott
Catherine McDermott, Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, is working to provide better resources for hospitalized young adults with chronic illnesses. Her tools aim to improve care equity and outcomes, enriching the inpatient experience.
Joseph Stern
Joseph Stern, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, will develop a training program incorporating Palliative Care communication skills into neurosurgical education. This initiative seeks to elevate empathy and reduce burnout among neurosurgeons.
Alexandra Vinson
Assistant Professor of Learning Health Sciences and Psychiatry, Alexandra Vinson, will create a seminar series to aid multi-stakeholder teams in Learning Health System initiatives. This intervention aims to boost institutional capacity for advancing care delivery and outcomes.
Justin Yates
Research Area Specialist Senior, Justin Yates, is developing a workshop for emergency medicine providers to explore the impact of social factors on care delivery. His intervention focuses on improving the integration of social determinants in emergency care.
Darin Zahuranec
Professor of Neurology, Darin Zahuranec, plans to introduce communication workshops for neurology trainees. These workshops are designed to enhance serious illness communication skills, providing scalable training materials for extensive dissemination.
