Q&A: Dr. Bernard J. Costello Senior Vice President for Health Affairs

Dr. Bernard J. Costello: Wayne State’s mission deeply resonates with me — especially its commitment to the city of Detroit. From my very first conversations, it was clear that this institution sees community engagement not as an initiative, but as a core identity. The chance to advance something transformative, collaborative and lasting was an opportunity I couldn’t ignore.

Costello: We are creating a truly integrated Health Affairs enterprise. That means uniting the strengths of the School of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and our emerging school of public health to educate compassionate healers and bold innovators. Together, we train students to work across disciplines, tackle complex health challenges and improve outcomes for the communities we serve. We do this as a synergized team of faculty, staff and students, in partnership with the region’s health systems.

Costello: It’s central. Ultimately, it’s all about caring for people. Our faculty, students and alumni are embedded in clinics and outreach programs across the city. Our Wayne Health Mobile Units have served nearly 100,000 patients. And our new Health Sciences Research Building will be a beacon for community-partnered research, where Detroit residents help shape research questions and the solutions. This is urban health innovation at its best.

Costello: The opportunity to build a school of public health for Detroit, shaped by Detroit. Public health needs are urgent in Michigan — developing guidance on chronic disease treatment, preventable hospitalizations, solving workforce shortages — and we are uniquely positioned to meet them. This school will prepare the next generation of leaders to confront disparities and improve lives across the state.

Costello: This major initiative will be a powerhouse of interdisciplinary discovery and team science. By fostering collaboration among talented investigators, clinicians and community stakeholders, we aim to reduce the typical 10-to-15-year lag between discovery and deployment of critical therapies. We will fast-track new treatments, technologies and interventions. This facility isn’t just about labs — it’s about better lives. And it’s about fueling economic growth through innovation and talent development right here in Detroit, from our faculty to our partners throughout the community.

Costello: It means training health professionals who don’t just treat diseases or prescribe medicines — they work with and care for the people, their families and the communities they live in. The Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic is a great example (see story on Page 14). Born from a needs assessment in the Virginia Park neighborhood, it fills critical gaps in care while providing students with hands-on training and clinical care opportunities. We are not only teaching health care — we are teaching humanistic healing and doing it in teams.

Costello: At Pitt, I saw firsthand how a coordinated, interdisciplinary approach rooted in community partnership can drive positive health outcomes and economic development. I enjoyed being a part of a unique and rapid growth of NIH funding, expanded clinical partnerships and the creation of scalable innovations. That experience prepared me to guide Wayne State through our version of that kind of transformation — one tailored to our community, culture and commitment here in Detroit.

Costello: Solving the world’s most difficult problems through research is a major part of our mission. We don’t just study issues — we’re in the community helping to tackle problems through our research. Without federal funding, we can’t solve those. I know that academic research can seem complex and even irrelevant to people, but when we think of it in terms of the impact it has on individuals and communities, it’s easier to see that we’re much better off when this work is supported and celebrated. In fact, Wayne State just launched a research impact website to help show how the work done by our esteemed faculty researchers is improving people’s lives in Detroit and around the world.

Costello: At Wayne State, training in health care is not just about acquiring a job or even a profession — for many it’s a mission, a calling. One-third of our WSU students are in health-related programs. Eighty-two percent stay in Michigan to serve. A significant portion of the state’s physicians trained here. That’s not coincidence — that’s our intention. And with these new investments and a new focus, we are building on that legacy to change the trajectory of health in Detroit, Michigan and beyond.