Ernie Yoder, M.D. PhD, FACP, ’78, President

Originally from Southwest Mich., Dr. Yoder attended Sturgis High School and Alma College before entering medical school. He completed his residency in internal medicine in 1981, and following a year as chief medical resident, joined Wayne State as a full time faculty member. He later completed his Ph.D. in Education at WSU in 1997.

Dr. Yoder was named CGEA Laureate by the AAMC; is a member of the School of Medicine Academy of Scholars; and has been named multiple times as one of the Best Doctors in America. His clinical and academic efforts have focused on critical care medicine, medical education, program evaluation, evidence based medicine (EBM), and continuous quality improvement (CQI) and has published widely in these areas. Dr. Yoder recently completed a four year term as the Governor for the Michigan Chapter of the American College of Physicians; a term on the Executive Committee of the ACP Board of Governors; and has served as Chair of the AAMC Central Group on Educational Affairs and Chair for the AAMC-GEA Section on Undergraduate Education.

After almost 20 years as full time faculty at the School of Medicine, Dr. Yoder accepted the position of Chair for the Department of Internal Medicine at Providence Hospital in Southfield. In 2006, he was inducted into the Detroit Academy of Medicine. In 2007, Dr. Yoder was appointed Vice President, Academic Affairs for St. John Health system. He is active in leading quality improvement studies and teaching CQI and EBM to students, residents, and faculty at St. John Health System. Dr. Yoder is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at WSU, and Adjunct Associate Professor at Oakland University where he teaches Quality Improvement in Health Care.

Donald Muenk, M.D., ’68, Treasurer

Dr. Muenk is an ophthalmologist in private practice and a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the School of Medicine. He is a past president of the Wayne State University Medical Alumni Association and is currently its treasurer. In 2005, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. He now serves as chief of ophthalmology at St. John Macomb Hospital.

Dr. Muenk is in his eleventh year as a member of the board of directors of the Michigan State Medical Society, currently serving as secretary. He is also serving as chairman of the Third Party Committee and on the board of directors of the Macomb County Medical Society.

Thomas Barbieri, MD ‘79, Secretary

Dr. Barbieri grew up on the east side of Detroit and attended Oakland University, graduating magna Cum Laude. His residency and fellowship training were at Henry Ford Hospital in Radiology. Currently Dr. Barbieri is chief of Interventional Radiology at Bon Secours/Beaumont Hospital. He and his wife Barbara have been married for thirty years and have two great children. His daughter, Andrea, is a third year medical student at Wayne State University and Kristen, just recently graduated from University of Michigan.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine alumni association is seeking candidates for three-year terms on the Medical Alumni Association Board of Governors beginning June 6. The board is the governing body of the Medical Alumni Association. It has 30 members elected at-large, plus appointed representatives in Florida, Massachusetts and California. Five new members are elected each year to serve a three-year term, and one new member is elected to serve as the secretary for the board. To be eligible, a candidate must be a member of the alumni association and an annual donor to the Alumni Annual Fund.

If you are interested in serving on the board, or would like to recommend someone, return the nomination form by March 1. Nominees will be contacted with the results in April. To download a nomination form, please visit http://www.med.wayne.edu/alumni/alumniboard.asp or call call (313) 577-3587 for more information.

Kevin Sprague, M.D., ’80, Honorary President

Dr. Sprague completed his orthopedic residency at Wayne State in 1985 and has been in practice in the downriver area for the past 22 years. He is a past president of the medical staff for Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, past co-chairman of the Quality & Safety Committee and current chairman of Wyandotte’s Philanthropy Medical Staff Fund. His current practice is located at Oakwood Southshore in the Michigan Bone and Joint Center.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Dr. Sprague entered the School of Medicine in 1976 and married his wife, Carolyn, just before his second year of medical school. She completed a master’s in physiology and then entered the School of Medicine, graduating in 1984. Carolyn has also been past president of the Medical School Alumni Board as well as a member of the Board of Visitors. They have three children: Kevin a 2nd year Wayne med student, Philip who resides in San Francisco and Jennifer a sophomore at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Sprague is a member of the Medical School Alumni Board as well as a member of the Board of Visitors. He is Chair of the Resource Development Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Board of Visitors. Dr. Sprague is enthusiastic about the Alumni Association, “I foresee continued growth for our Association, expanded participation, and continued partnership with the Wayne State University Medical School.”