One Health Council: Fall Update & Next Steps

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back to a new academic year! As co-chairs of the One Health Council, we’re excited to share a status update on the important conversations ahead through One Team, One Health.

Over the summer, the One Health Council and its task forces have been exploring the President’s bold options to strengthen MSU’s leadership in health, including:

• Exploring the idea of a unified College of Medicine with two medical degree pathways (DO and MD)
• Considering the creation of a new College of Health Professions
• Developing a university-wide research strategy that expands interdisciplinary collaboration
• Identifying the infrastructure needed to sustain long-term integration and impact

This work is grounded in MSU’s land-grant mission: delivering real-world impact through education, research, outreach, and service — harnessing our R1 research excellence, preparing students for the future of health, and building collaboration that positions MSU as a national leader in advancing health solutions.

Process and Timeline

Current Phase (September 2025): Task forces are submitting draft recommendations to the Council. These will be synthesized into a single working document that integrates the contributions of all four task forces. This draft will be a starting point for discussion, not a final product.

Engagement & Feedback (September–October 2025): Starting this week, we are engaging academic governance, faculty, staff, students, community partners, and statewide stakeholders to gather feedback on preliminary recommendations. This collaborative input will be incorporated into the evolving draft report.

Final Recommendations (Late October 2025): Through this iterative process, the Council will shape a set of community-informed recommendations for President Guskiewicz to consider.

We recognize these discussions touch on areas of pride and identity across our colleges and programs. There is rarely an ideal moment to consider significant change in an organization as large and complex as MSU. That’s why your voices, perspectives, and experiences are essential. We are committed to transparency, inclusivity, and an evidence-based approach to ensure the final recommendations are both visionary and practical.

There will be multiple opportunities for engagement in the weeks ahead — details coming soon. In the meantime, we invite you to ask questions, share ideas, and challenge assumptions. Your input will help us shape a stronger, more collaborative future for health at MSU.

Thank you for your dedication to our university and for your continued support of the One Team, One Health vision.

Go Green!

Kim Dodd & Norm Hubbard
Co-Chairs, One Health Council

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