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Leadership transitions at MSU College of Human Medicine, U.P. campus

Dr. William Short

MARQUETTE — After more than 30 years in medical education, Dr. William Short, community assistant dean for the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Region campus, is planning to retire, effective Friday.

Dr. Stuart Johnson, who has been the Marquette Family Medicine Residency program director, will be assuming Short’s position.

The MSU College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Region campus works in conjunction with UP Health System-Marquette to coordinate the training of family medicine residents and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine medical students.

“It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of visionary leaders who started and advanced this organization to the respected program that it is today,” Johnson said. “It is refreshing to see the fruit of their collective labor as evidenced by the large percentage of medical students and residents who either stay or return to the Upper Peninsula and care for individuals, families and our communities.”

Dr. Brian Waite, who has been an assistant director of the residency program, will become the new residency program director.

“Both the residency and medical school programs have performed extremely well here in the Upper Peninsula,” Short said. “Many of the physicians practicing in the U.P. are graduates of one or both of these programs whose origins date back to the 1970s. We are very proud of our success story and the tremendous support we have received from UP Health System, the MSU College of Human Medicine and the many volunteer physician teachers from throughout the Upper Peninsula.

“Doctors Johnson and Waite are both highly qualified and experienced as physicians, teachers and administrators. Both programs will be in great hands. I could not be more pleased with this leadership transfer,” Short said.

Johnson said he looks forward to continuing the work of partnership with physicians, health systems, community leaders and others.

Short plans to continue seeing patients in his family medicine practice in Marquette and teaching physicians in the two education programs.

Since its inception in 1974, 278 medical students and 192 resident physicians have graduated from the two programs. Currently, approximately 30 percent of the MSU College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Region physicians are practicing in the U.P. in every primary care and additional specialties of medicine.

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