Central Michigan University College of Medicine dean recognized by National Alliance on Mental Illness
George E. Kikano, M.D., receives Honors Award from NAMI-Michigan
On Saturday, April 12, the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Michigan presented George E. Kikano, M.D., with the esteemed Physician/Psychiatrist of the Year Honors Award. The NAMI-MI Honors Awards are given to shine a spotlight on exemplary individuals and organizations who do vital work that enhances Michigan’s mental health system and improves the lives of people in our state.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kikano has made significant contributions to improving mental health in the communities he serves. This includes several notable achievements during his tenure as executive vice president for Health Affairs at Central Michigan University and dean of the CMU College of Medicine.
He initiated the formation of the CMU Rural Health Equity Institute (RHEI), which strives, in part, to improve mental health care and provide resources for those struggling with thoughts of self-harm. He supports the RHEI’s work with Preventing Suicide in Michigan Men (PRiSMM) to provide training for health care professionals and serves as the principal investigator for the HRSA-funded Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Program at CMU. This campus-wide initiative enhances mental health services for all college students, including those at risk of suicide, depression, severe mental illness, and/or substance use disorders, which can adversely affect school performance and quality of life.
Dr. Kikano has forged many exceptional partnerships with health systems and community organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Region. In cooperation with the Great Lakes Bay Health Centers and HealthSource, CMU is now the largest provider of mental health services in the region.
The College also collaborates with the Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network, which has office space on the Saginaw campus. With support from Barb Smith and her team, the College became the first medical school in the country to offer suicide awareness training to their learners, giving future physicians an improved set of skills to draw from when treating patients who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. CMU medical students also worked with the Saginaw County Medical Society to get a resolution passed by the American Medical Association to develop educational resources and training related to suicide risk for medical students, residents/fellows, practicing physicians and other health care professionals throughout the country.
Furthermore, he supported the establishment of both the first Psychiatry Residency program north of Flint as well as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship to ensure the College is helping to address the alarming shortage of psychiatrists in the state. He also played a crucial role in starting a mental health clinic on campus.
Kikano has a long track record for initiating and implementing community-based programs to address social determinants of health among underserved urban and rural populations. Prior to joining CMU, Kikano served as vice dean for Community Health at Case Western Reserve University and director of the Weatherhead Institute for Family Medicine and Community Health in Ohio. To improve the health and well-being of the underserved, he led programs such as the Urban Health Initiative, the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, and the House Calls Program to serve homebound elderly individuals.
As a leader and a health care provider, Dr. Kikano has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to educating future generations of physicians and he continues to have a lasting, positive impact on medical and mental health care delivery for all.
