History

A Timeline of Impact

The Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health at Michigan State University has evolved from an initial 2012 medical education expansion in Flint into the university's first fully philanthropically named department. This timeline highlights how decades of grant funding, community collaboration, and facility expansions have solidified MSU's public health footprint in downtown Flint.

Establishing a Public Health Footprint in Flint

  • 2012: The college of Human Medicine receives $2.8 million in grants from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to pursue the expansion of medical education in Flint and to discover areas of research interest for the community’s most pressing public health needs.
  • November 2014: The college of Human Medicine unveils 40,000 square feet of new medical education and public health research space in the historic Flint Journal Building. The medical school’s expansion was made possible by more than $11 million in grants from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the ongoing medical education support by MSU’s hospital partners, Ascension Genesys Hospital, Hurley Medical Center, and McLaren Flint. At this time, MSU’s Flint-based public health experts began implementing programs and research initiatives in collaboration with the Flint community.
  • Early Operations: Flint-based public health experts begin implementing programs and research initiatives directly in collaboration with the Flint community.

Becoming MSU's First Philanthropically Named Department

  • December 16, 2022: The Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health became the first fully philanthropically named department at Michigan State University.
  • Grants and Job Creation: The milestone is fueled by a $25 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, which is expected to add over 200 new jobs.

Expanding Facilities and Research Space

  • Fall 2024: Construction begins on an additional 40,000 square feet of public health space to the former Flint Journal building.
  • Facility Ownership: The building is owned by Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, a Mott grantee leading the charge in Flint’s ongoing revitalization.
  • Space Utilization: The new areas are designed for research, learning, shared student space, study rooms, clinical skills examination rooms, suites, offices, and more.
  • August 26, 2025: The college of Human Medicine and community partners cut the ribbon on the expanded public health research facility in downtown Flint. 

Highlights of Public Health Research in Action 

Two girls cooking food

Helping Children Grow Up Healthy and Strong

The MSU-Hurley Children’s Pediatric Public Health Initiative is a model health equity program, with the mission to improve health outcomes for Flint kids and kids everywhere. A multidisciplinary team of experts work in partnership with parents and youth.

a woman playing with her baby on the floor

A Lifeline for Postpartum Depression

Research from the ROSE program shows that it prevents half of cases of postpartum depression. Setting up the program at an agency costs $2,000 - $4,000 in staff time, while a single case of untreated postpartum depression averaging $34,000.

Two women handing out Flint Registry information sitting at a table

Uncovering the Flint Water Crisis and Leading Recovery Efforts 

MSU has been dedicated to lead recovery efforts through the Flint Registry, providing support and resources with more than 30,000 referrals to services for those impacted by the water crisis.

Discover our latest research news to see how our ongoing public health initiatives, expert insights, and collaborative efforts are shaping a healthier future.