Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

04/16/2026

Joe Vercellone spent 15 years building a successful career asking companies about their technology needs. But one day, he asked himself an audacious question:

Could I become a doctor in my 40s?

The short answer? M.D. now follows his name.

The long answer? Yes – but not before taking an incredible leap into a new profession with almost no science background, balancing pre-med courses at night while still working full-time, and then medical school… all while raising three young kids with his wife working full-time.

Fast forward to today: Joe is an academic internal medicine physician at Henry Ford Rochester Hospital.

And what drives him? It’s the moments when a patient’s eyes light up when he walks in the room.

“To have them joke with me even though they might be going through some of the worst times of their lives… that’s what makes all the difference.”

Learn more about the 2016 OUWB alum below!

Joe Vercellone built a successful career asking companies about their technology needs until he posed an audacious question to himself: Could he become a doctor in his 40s?

04/13/2026

We’re thrilled to share that Vardan Karamyan, Pharm.D., professor at OUWB, has been awarded a $3 million, five-year competitive grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue groundbreaking work on a potential new stroke therapy.

Currently in the preclinical stage, this research aims to develop a drug that could be given to patients after an ischemic stroke—the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S.

The goal? To activate a protective enzyme in the brain that could reduce brain damage and improve survival and recovery.

"If proven in future clinical trials, it would essentially be the second drug available to treat stroke in the United States," says Karamyan. "This would be very impactful."

The project is a collaborative effort involving researchers from Texas Tech University, University of Nebraska, and Michigan State University—with Karamyan’s lab at OUWB guiding and connecting the work.

Vardan Karamyan, Pharm.D., professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies and the OUWB Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease and Drug Discovery, is principal investigator on the project that also includes researchers from Texas Tech University, University of Nebraska, and Michigan State Un...

04/09/2026

About 30 OUWB students recently volunteered at the 14th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Health Fair, helping promote healthy living and showing what community commitment really looks like.

Co-hosted by OUWB at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods, the event (rescheduled from a snowy January) welcomed around 60 attendees who received basic health screenings and participated in educational activities.

From blood pressure and glucose checks to lipid panels and wellness tips, OUWB's future physicians put their knowledge to work.

As one student put it: “It’s very empowering because it makes you feel like you actually have a role in giving back to your community.”

About 30 OUWB students recently volunteered at a community event aimed at promoting healthy living and showcasing the school’s commitment to service.

04/06/2026

OUWB medical students recently teamed up with a nonprofit for the Plant Plunge—an initiative focused on how plant-based eating can help prevent and manage chronic illnesses like diabetes.

Students were reminded that "diet is the most underestimated tool in your toolbox."

One man shared his own powerful journey: medication-free for 14+ years and 50 lbs lost—after no doctor ever suggested changing his diet.

Another expert offered practical tips, showing that healthy plant-based eating can be simple, affordable, and delicious.

The goal? Encourage future physicians to try a plant-based diet for three weeks—and take that knowledge to their patients.

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine students recently took a deep dive into the benefits of plant-based eating, thanks to a collaboration with a local nonprofit. 

04/03/2026

One moment can change everything.

As a volunteer EMT, Emaad Khan (now a first-year student at OUWB) met families who were more afraid of medical bills than their injuries. That experience led him to start Spread the Love Projects (STLP) in 2022.

Today, the nonprofit has raised over $208,000 and helped 1,500+ families with essentials like housing, meals, and health care support—while partnering with children’s hospitals to reach those who need it most.

Full story below!

Emaad Khan (center), M1, OUWB, started Spread the Love Projects as an undergrad. At the third annual gala in 2025, the organization raised more than $50,000.

04/01/2026

We are blown away by the generosity shown during the 7th Annual Feminine Hygiene Product Drive!

In partnership with the Detroit chapter of I Support the Girls, OUWB's Student-Run Free Clinics collected over 16,000 items during the drive. These essentials will help patients at the Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic in Pontiac and many other community members.

For medical students like Riya Gupta, M2, the project is personal:
“Being part of this organization and working alongside the local community to improve patient health and equity is really important... this partnership is a reflection of that.”

Students from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine recently partnered with a local nonprofit to collect more than 16,000 feminine hygiene products to benefit the local community. 

03/28/2026

Alise Haddad and Ethan Dimock’s "fairy tale" journey began in the halls of Oakland University, and their next chapter is staying right here in southeast Michigan.

After falling in love as undergrads and getting married during medical school at OUWB, they have now both matched into residency programs locally. Ethan will be at Wayne State for otolaryngology, while Alise heads to Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital for pediatrics.

They credit the “exceptional learning environment” and “community” at OU and OUWB for helping them build the foundation for their dreams.

"We hope to one day show our appreciation for Oakland in one way, shape or form … it truly is a great institution," said Haddad.

https://www.oakland.edu/inmedicine/student-success/2026/ethan-dimock-and-alise-haddad-successfully-match-in-southeast-michigan-after-8-years-at-oakland-and-ouwb

Before Alise Haddad and Ethan Dimock found their “happily ever after” at the altar, they shared a different kind of fairy tale moment on the campus of Oakland University.

03/25/2026

Please join us in celebrating the 19 OUWB medical students from the Class of 2027 who were inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society at the recent Faircloth Evening of Medical Humanism!

This honor, voted on by their peers, recognizes their dedication to compassionate, patient-centered care—a skill that is more vital than ever. The evening, co-hosted with Oakland University School of Education and Human Services Department of Counseling, was a beautiful tribute to the human spirit in medicine.

We are so proud of you all! 👏

OUWB third-year medical student inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2026. (See box below for full list of names.)

03/20/2026

Huge Match Day congratulations to the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Class of 2026!

One hundred twenty-one future physicians now know where they will begin their clinical training, and the results are truly inspiring. With a 98% match rate, this incredible class is headed to 23 states across the country to begin the next chapter of their journey.

That includes 51 (42%) who will complete their residency training in Michigan. Seventeen are headed to residency programs throughout the Corewell Health system in Michigan.

Others matched at places like Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Stanford Health Care, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of Michigan Hospitals, and University of California Irvine Medical Center.

More below, including a link to all matches!

One hundred twenty-one members of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Class of 2026 now know where they will begin clinical training following an “inspiring” Match Day Friday.  

03/12/2026

🎬 From the classrooms of OUWB to Netflix! 🎬

Haramol Gill, M.D., OUWB ’15, is currently in the media spotlight after stealing the show — and the hearts of many — on the new "Love is Blind" reunion that dropped Wednesday.

Learn more below about him and why one person said they "never heard someone speak so wonderfully about another human being and it literally brought me to tears!"

An alumnus from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine is in national and international headlines today after taking the reality TV world by storm Wednesday.

03/05/2026

The OUWB community recently came together for a night of laughter and generosity at the annual PIG Roast, hosted by one of our most active student organizations—the Pediatric Interest Group (PIG)!

Thanks to a volleyball fundraiser, silent auction, pie-throwing event, and a hilarious night of skits featuring faculty and students, the group raised a grand total of $5,060. All proceeds benefit Care House of Oakland County.

Event Coordinator Olivia McNelly (M2) set a bold goal of $5,000 and was thrilled to surpass it. "It means so much knowing what Care House does... Every single penny we raised is going straight to them."

Find a link to the story in the comments below!