Michigan Health Policy Forum
A Non-Partisan Venue to Discuss Health Policy
Michigan Health Policy Forum
A Non-Partisan Venue to Discuss Health Policy
Hosted by Michigan State University
The Michigan Health Policy Forum is Pleased to Present the Spring 2026 Forum
"GLP-1 Medication: Exploring the Modern-Day Panacea"
The Spring 2026 Michigan Health Policy Forum will be held Monday, June 1, 2026 from 12:00pm - 3:30pm at Lansing Community College West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Drive, Lansing, MI 48917. The Spring Forum will be in-person only and there will be no concurrent live-streaming of the event. There is no cost to attend.
Registration can be done here.
Speakers:
Dr. Randy J. Seeley, PhD, Professor of Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Nutritonal Sciences, University of Michigan School of Medicine
Dr. Randy Seeley is the Henry K. Ransom Endowed Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He also serves as the director of the NIH-funded Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center (MNORC).
His scientific work has focused on the gut-brain axis and its role in regulating energy balance and metabolism, emphasizing new treatment strategies for obesity and diabetes. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles that have been cited more than 47,000 times and Dr. Seeley has a Scopus h-index of 108. Dr. Seeley has received numerous awards including the 2009 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award from the American Diabetes Association.
Jamie K. Alan, PharmD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University
Jamie K. Alan, PharmD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She is a licensed pharmacist with over two decades of experience in pharmacy practice, medical education, and biomedical research. Dr. Alan’s work spans pharmacology, drug discovery, and translational research, with a focus on adverse effects of exogenous substance, with a focus on improving patient-centered care.
She has an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications, grant funding, and invited presentations. Dr. Alan is also a highly awarded educator and national faculty member for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
Her combined expertise as a pharmacist, educator, and researcher allows her to bring a comprehensive, evidence-based perspective to clinical decision-making, medication safety, and improving health outcomes across diverse patient populations.
Sarah Elzinga, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Michigan State University
Dr. Sarah Elzinga is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology at Michigan State University. Her research investigates how metabolic stress—obesity, prediabetes/diabetes—along with aging, drive neuroinflammation, central nervous system damage, and cognitive impairment. Currently, her research is particularly focused on innate immune pathways, such as cGAS/STING; a pathway which responds to DNA when it is found in the cytosol of cells. Dr. Elzinga has been well-funded throughout her career, including as the recipient of a highly competitive NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), supporting her work on immune mechanisms linking midlife metabolic disease to later-life cognitive decline. Her work has been published in journals including Diabetes, Translational Research, Disease Models & Mechanisms, Frontiers in Immunology, and Alzheimer’s & Dementia, and she has presented at national and international meetings including the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference and the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions.
Jed Miller, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Consultant, Office of Medical Affairs, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Jed Miller, MD, MPH is the Chief Medical Consultant in the Office of Medical Affairs at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, where he leads a team of clinicians who provide clinical support to Michigan Medicaid and the Children's Special Health Care Services Program. Dr. Miller has a clinical background in general pediatrics and a public health background in environmental health and children with special health care needs. After practicing as a general pediatrician in Pennsylvania, he served in roles at the Maryland Department of the Environment and Maryland Department of Health, including as Maryland's director for children and youth with special health care needs. Dr. Miller completed undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, medical school at UCLA, residency training at the University of Virginia, and public health training at Johns Hopkins.