William Cunningham DO, MHA, MSUCOM IGH
William Cunningham DO, MHA currently serves as the Associate Dean for Global Health and the Director of the Institute for Global Health (IGH) at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University. Dr. Cunningham was instrumental in the formation and approval of the Masters in Global Health and Certificate program that will matriculate students in January of 2020. In his current capacity of Associate Dean, he is responsible for advocating on the behalf of the four health care colleges at MSU for the education, research and cultural awareness of their graduate students. Additionally, IGH provides Study Abroad programs for pre-professional students interested in the delivery of health care in a global context.
IGH currently has active programs in Canada, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, Japan, Malawi, Mexico (Merida), Nepal, Peru and the Republic of Korea. Programs that are currently in process are Kenya and India.
Prior to accepting this academic position in January of 2011, Dr. Cunningham served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for fourteen years at Metro Health Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this role he developed programs and relationships that led to Metro Health’s designation as a nationally recognized Top 100 Hospital three consecutive years. He led the development of the first employed practice management organization for the system and chaired the medical staff development team during his tenure. Dr. Cunningham continues to serve Metro Health Hospital in the capacity of Medical Director of Employee Health Service.
Dr. Cunningham is a graduate of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He interned at Brentwood/ Cleveland Clinic Hospital system and graduated from the Emergency Medicine residency program at Akron General Medical Center where he was Chief Resident in Emergency Medicine. He completed a master’s in health administration in 1992 from the school of business at University of Colorado/Denver. In 2007 Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine conferred on Dr. Cunningham its highest distinction – the Patenge Medal of Public Service for lifetime achievement to the College and his community service. He was awarded in 2011 the Metro Health Legacy of Leaders award by the medical staff for his twenty- two years of service to the hospital, medical staff, patients and the community. In 2013 the Michigan Hospital Association honored Dr. Cunningham at their annual meeting with the Healthcare Leadership Award for contributions to the community and to health care in the State of Michigan.
Past appointments include: appointed by Governor Granholm and reappointed by the current Governor Snyder to serve as a member of the licensing Board of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, State of Michigan. He is currently a Fellow in the Federation of State Medical Boards. He is active at the national level for the American Osteopathic Association, serving on the Bureau of Socioeconomic Affairs, Bureau of Education, and chairs the Bureau of Hospitals. He has an appointment as a Clinical Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He continues to practice clinically in occupational medicine as well as committing to overseas mission trips. He also volunteers as the Medical Director for Project C.U.R.E. (www.projectcure.org), an international humanitarian relief organization that sends donated medical equipment to over 130 countries around the globe.
