Jeffrey W. Dwyer, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and College of Human Medicine

Mid-Michigan Health

UP Health System – Marquette

Munson Medical Center

 

Jeffrey Dwyer has spent nearly a decade working with community partners to build a statewide research network affiliated with the campuses of MSU’s College of Human Medicine. His goal is to align the expertise of health-focused professionals from the university with communities in need. He helped place five scientists in Traverse City, Marquette, and Midland, who have collectively received funding from the National Institutes of Health and elsewhere for projects in the local community and have acquired more than $500,000 in funding through community partnerships designed to address local health needs.

 

This statewide network is supporting community-engaged research and the development of collaborations between the College of Human Medicine and other MSU units, including federally funded research and intervention projects as well as MSU Extension’s investment in Extension Health Research (HER). Close partners include Paula Klose at Mid-Michigan Health, William Short at Marquette, and Daniel Webster at Munson.

 

Dr. Dwyer worked closely with the HER team to create “speed meetings” with Extension staff members and faculty from throughout the university. These meetings helped the faculty understand how MSU Extension’s statewide footprint creates opportunities for connections between faculty members and Michigan residents. MSU Extension has a 100-year history of building trusted relationships with agencies and community groups that may be interested in being part of research to help them improve their lives and the lives of others.