Gay Johnson, CEHHS Winter 2017 Chancellor's Medallion Recipient

Gay Johnson

Gay Johnson, a College of Education, Health, and Human Services student, was one of the five new graduates who were recognized as Chancellor's Medallion recipients during the UM-Dearborn's commencement ceremony on April 30, 2017. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in healthy policy studies and a minor in women's and gender studies. She graduated with High Distinction.

Gay transferred to UM-Dearborn as part of the Honors Transfer Innovators program, and during her education years at CEHHS, she was on the Dean's List as a part-time student for Fall 2013/Winter 2014 and Fall 2014/Winter 2015 and was named a 2014 UM-Dearborn Difference Maker.

"I wanted to inspire others to reach their goals and fulfill their dreams as I aimed to do regardless of my age. My desire to pursue an education was something I desired to achieve", said Gay.

She chose Health Policy studies as her major because her father experienced many health challenges and "I wanted to know what policies were in place so he could receive the best possible care", she said. "I chose UM-Dearborn, because I would receive a quality education while enhancing my employment opportunities."

Gay was a very active student leader. She was the chair of Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL), vice president of communications for the campus chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and served as a site leader for the annual MLK Day of Service. She is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, and was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society.

Now she plans to use her acquired skills to advance her career at Delta Airlines and in the future, Gay also plans to open a long-term shelter for homeless people. "Homelessness is a huge issue which needs to be addressed more often", she concluded.

Winter 2017 UM-Dearborn Chancellor's Medallion Recipients and
Student speaker (from left): Brandon Lee (CECS), Jamie Jeffries (CASL),
Kevin Landwehr (COB), Gay Johnson (CEHHS), Victor Jimenez (Student
Speaker-CASL) and Nic Jones (CASL)

Encouragement and guidance ensures positive results for health policy studies grad

After searching for a way to make a difference in the field of health outside of a clinical setting that would allow him to work with people who needed assistance, Ray Lynem found his educational home in UM-Dearborn's Health Policy Studies program through the guidance of  Lawrence Radine, then associate professor of sociology and Director of the Health Policy Studies. Radine retired after the Fall 2014 semester.

Lynem views his studies assisting him in moving toward his ultimate goal.  “The ability to have such a profound impact on the health of others would be an incredible experience and responsibility. My most important mission is to promote justice and equality within the healthcare system by increasing access to care for all people.”

Lynem is attending U-M Ann Arbor this fall to earn a Master of Health Services Administration degree.


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Encouragement and guidance ensures positive results for CEHHS health policy studies grad

When he was a teenager, Ray Lynem’s nephew Jaden was born. From that moment, Lynem knew he wanted to work in the health field.

“My family and I were at the hospital all night while my sister was in labor. During the hours of patiently waiting and hoping for a successful delivery, I witnessed real health care in action,” said Lynem, a UM-Dearborn Difference Maker who is graduating April 26. “It was an eye-opening experience for me to see the work providers do and the positive impact they can have on our lives when we are in such a vulnerable position.”

But he wasn’t sure what role in the field was right for him until he spoke with Lawrence Radine, then associate professor of sociology and Director of the health policy studies program. Radine retired after the Fall 2014 semester.

Prior to his conversation with Radine, Lynem attended other universities and worked in different areas within healthcare, but couldn’t find the right fit or major.

After some reflection and taking a semester off of school, Lynem decided he still wanted to do something in the health field where he could work with people who needed assistance—but without direct involvement in the clinical aspect of things.

“It was important to me to make a difference. I saw UM-Dearborn had a health policy studies program. It’s something that other local universities don’t have for undergraduates,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is it.’”

Lynem emailed Radine, who immediately wrote him back.

“He set up a time with me to talk on the phone. How impressive is that?” Lynem said. “We spoke for a long time about my experiences and goals. He said, ‘It sounds like this is a good direction for you.’”

Lynem said once he got to campus he found his educational home. He consistently made the Dean’s List and he won leadership roles in student organizations.

“I’ve had so many experiences here from planning the Healthcare Expo with the Public Health Student Society, which had more than 900 people attend, to being connected with internships,” he said. “Through it all, Dr. Radine was instrumental in guiding me. He was there at the very beginning and never stopped introducing me to opportunities and showing me career paths.”

Lynem will attend U-M Ann Arbor in the fall to earn a Master of Health Services Administration degree.

And after that? Well, Lynem does have an ultimate goal.

“My end goal is to become the CEO of a hospital, while also creating partnerships in the community to promote health on a grassroots level,” he said. “The ability to have such a profound impact on the health of others would be an incredible experience and responsibility. My most important mission is to promote justice and equality within the healthcare system by increasing access to care for all people.”

And, because of the opportunities he’s had and mentors along the way, Lynem says he’ll keep working toward his goals until they are accomplished.

“Growing up in Detroit, I was unaware of the many possibilities out there for me and I wasn’t used to thinking that I could be anything that I wanted to be,” he said. “Dr. Radine changed that. He told me if I worked hard, anything was possible. And I believe he’s right.”

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