“At Michigan, we are not passive. We asked ourselves - what can we do?”
Founded in 2019 by pediatric surgeons Dr. Erika Newman and Dr. Erin Perrone, the Impacting HOPE Collaborative analyzes and enhances systems to increase health equity, opportunity, pathways and education for children and families who have been traditionally excluded from academic medicine, generational wealth and quality care.
To make true progress we must focus efforts to recruit, train and retain outstanding doctors from cities of deep disadvantage. Precious few students from high-poverty cities ever attend or graduate from medical school. These physicians are twice as likely as the majority to plan to practice in their communities- yet the barriers are too often insurmountable. Educating doctors who come from underserved communities is essential to end structural classism and racism.
We are building a contemporary, proactively anti-racist framework to connect and expand resources and partner with local and national community agencies, public health officials, school systems and existing programming at the University of Michigan to equip current and future HOPE Scholars to achieve Excellence Beyond Limits.
Meet our 2022 Cohort - Michigan HOPE Scholars
The Michigan HOPE Scholars Program specifically supports U-M undergraduate students or alums who aspire to be physicians and identify as disadvantaged. We provide robust pre-medical enrichment and mentorship to support their preparation for competitive candidacy for medical school at the University of Michigan.
Michigan HOPE Scholars receive:
HOPE Elementary is building pathways to medicine from high-poverty cities beginning with our youngest learners. Enrichment experiences for elementary students encourage early excitement, identity, self-efficacy and ownership. Our goal is to facilitate actionable paths and reduce systemic barriers for children and families.
Save the Date! Friday, February 24, 2023 - Michigan HOPE Symposium
The HOPE Collaborative and Department of Surgery host an annual symposium to drive action to meet pressing health, social and advocacy needs in medicine and our communities in Michigan. The event brings together experts in the fields of academic medicine, social justice and public education to unify through conversation, strategy groups and creative workshops. Faculty members, students, health professionals and community advocates are all welcome to attend this public event. The symposium is followed by a concert to raise awareness and uplift our scholars and HOPE community.
Make a gift to join our mission and support the areas of highest need. Your generosity will directly support and propel the Michigan HOPE Collaborative to new levels of equity and innovation. Download our Opportunities for Impact guide.
To discuss major gifts and endowment opportunities, please contact Jackie Rink, Assistant Director of Development, Department of Surgery at [email protected].
We invite you to reach out to [email protected] to learn more about the Impacting HOPE Collaborative and how we can immediately begin to improve long-term outcomes.
"We can’t do this as one person or two people. We can’t do this as one organization. We have to be able to organize the masses."
Dr. Newman is committed to strategizing organizational changes that allow all individuals an equal and inclusive opportunity to achieve excellence. She is Section Chief of Pediatric Surgery, Associate Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice for the Rogel Cancer Center, and the inaugural Michael W. Mulholland MD, PhD Research Professor of Surgery. Dr. Newman grew up near Chicago’s south side, worked her way through nursing school and participated in a rigorous pre-medical enrichment study, the Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies Program, which both prepared and propelled her to study medicine and which she credits as having a transformational effect on her life and career. Dr. Newman established the HOPE Collaborative to address the barriers that face today’s students and is uniquely poised to serve as a role model and fierce advocate for their success.
Dr. Perrone is deeply invested in taking action to increase diversity in medicine and equitable health outcomes. Dr. Perrone is a faculty member in the Section of Pediatric Surgery, Director of the Michigan Women’s Surgical Collaborative and Vice-Chair for Faculty Life within the Department of Surgery. Her work within the Michigan Promise focuses on culture and support of trainees through intentional mentorship and academic environmental design.
Christine was appointed Director of the Michigan HOPE Collaborative in July 2021 after generous philanthropic support was secured to advance the mission and goals. Christine brings expertise in educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, and asset-based learning methodologies. She is dedicated to action to increase access to opportunities for Michigan children and families. Contact her at [email protected] for more information about how to get involved.