An endowed chair position is the highest academic award that a university can bestow, and McLaren Greater Lansing is proud that the first endowed chair position in the College of Nursing at Michigan State University will be funded by a $1.5 million gift from the hospital.
“To have the first endowed chair, and to have that be in behavioral health and behavioral health education, couldn’t be timelier,” said Dr. Justin Klamerus, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for McLaren Health Care. “We are all aware of the staggering impact on mental illness on our society. Alarmingly, mental illness (including drug addiction and overdoses) contributes to the leading cause of death in American for men and woman under the age of 50. What excited me about Dr. Chen is her research will drive better understanding of interventions to reduce this crisis but also help us train the future generations of nursing professionals caring for our patients.”
On March 4, 2024, leadership from McLaren, MSU, and community partners gathered to celebrate Angela Chia-Chen Chen, who was selected to fill the position. Chen joined the college last summer and is one of few nurse scientists who is using technology to address risky behaviors and to promote mental health and vaccination.
“Mental illness has no boundaries; it affects individuals of all ages and backgrounds,” said Dr. Chen. “Yet, despite its pervasive impact, mental health has often been stigmatized and marginalized. It is time for us to prioritize mental health with the same vigor and determination as we do physical health.”
In her new role, Dr. Chen will work to bridge the gap between research and practice in behavioral mental health nursing. Too often there is a divide between education and real-life application.
“A committee of members from MSU, McLaren, LCC, and the community spent several years interviewing and searching for the perfect candidate, and we have found her,” said Linda Peterson, MD, Chief Medical Officer for McLaren Greater Lansing. “We know that one out of three patients we see in the hospital are on some type of psychotropic medication because of mental health. This will give us a bandwidth of nurses at the bedside who are trained in caring for both the patient’s mental and physical health.”
Chen acknowledged the responsibility that comes with the honor of being selected for this important role. She will work not only to advance the knowledge and innovation in the field of behavioral mental health nursing but also to advocate for those who suffer in silence.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to serve in this role,” said Dr. Chia-Chen Chen. “Together, let us embark on this journey with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to transforming behavioral mental health care for generations to come.”
To learn more about the College of Nursing at Michigan State University, click here.
To learn more about starting a career as a nurse at McLaren Greater Lansing, click here.
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