CMU executive vice president and dean recognized as Notable Leader in Health Care by Crain’s Detroit Business

George E. Kikano, M.D. has been recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as a Notable Leader in Health Care.  Kikano serves as the executive vice president for Health Affairs at CMU, dean of the CMU College of Medicine and board chair of CMU Medical Education Partners.  He has been with Central Michigan University since 2015.

Early in his tenure with the University, Kikano led the accreditation process for the newly established College of Medicine.  He has secured vital, long-term affiliation agreements with hospitals statewide to ensure a robust offering of clinical experiences for College of Medicine learners.

In 2023, Kikano directed the creation of the CMU Rural Health Equity Institute to align with and enhance the College’s mission to serve rural and underserved communities.  He is active in many state and national organizations and serves on several nonprofit boards aiming to improve the health and well-being of communities.

“Dr. George Kikano is a visionary leader for central Michigan,” said Sethu Reddy, M.D., senior associate dean of research at CMU’s College of Medicine.  “He is a master of understanding the big picture and an excellent champion for the College with both the physician and lay communities. It is crystal clear that his motivation is only for the long-term success of the College’s graduates.” 

Under Kikano’s leadership, the College has graduated over 700 new physicians.  Each year, graduating medical students apply to residency programs to continue their training and are placed through the National Residency Matching Program. The residency match rate is the percentage of students who are successfully placed into residency programs.  The College of Medicine has a 98% historic match rate with more than half of each graduating class continuing their residency training in the state and 60-75% of our students choosing to practice in primary care positions.

Most recently, the CMU College of Medicine was recognized among US News and World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools for Medicine for accomplishments directly related to our mission to address the physician shortage and serve underserved areas.  Out of 168 medical schools, the College ranked 43 for serving rural areas, 52 for placing the most graduates in primary care and 67 for the most graduates serving in health professional shortage areas.  This is a tremendous achievement and a great testament to Kikano’s leadership and commitment to his vision.

CMU President Robert Davies expressed his congratulations, “Dr. Kikano’s leadership has significantly transformed the College of Medicine at CMU and has created a lasting impact throughout the entire state.”

Prior to joining CMU, Kikano was recognized as a Health Care Hero by Crain’s Cleveland in 2012.  This achievement stemmed from his work as the first vice dean for Community Health at Case Western Reserve University where he led the Weatherhead Institute for Family Medicine and Community Health.