Filling a gap: U-M students help combat Michigan’s shortage of rural dentists

Two dentists work on a patient.

Northern Michigan resident Becky Klein was surprised to learn that the dentists at the Thunder Bay Community Health Service clinic were students from the U-M School of Dentistry. They turned out to be just as competent and professional as seasoned practitioners, she said, and excellent communicators.

  1. From left, students Zoe Bliss and Savanna Delise, members of the 2020-21 SEAS Bees master’s degree project team, install a pollinator-friendly native plant garden next to the Museum of Natural History. (Photo courtesy of SEAS Bees)

    Ann Arbor campus joins Bee Campus USA movement

    U-M’s Ann Arbor campus recently joined UM-Dearborn as a certified Bee Campus, reflecting the University’s commitment to pollinator conservation. U-M has long followed pollinator-friendly landscaping practices.

  2. Evan King, a record-breaking Black tennis player, dressed in Michigan gear, with a racket.

    Michigan Athletics celebrates Black athletes, alumni, and staff

    Learn about the Black trailblazers, national award winners, and All-Americans who’ve represented the Block M over the years.  Plus: Enjoy ‘Our Voices,’ a video and graphic series that highlights Black women.

  3. Jarrett Irons, wearing Michigan gear, holds a football. Image credit: Jeremy Marble

    Brain health, concussions and sports: Is there a long-term connection?

    The Michigan Alumni Brain Health Study will compare cognitive, mood, sleep, pain, and functional outcomes to examine whether sport participation and concussions are associated with later-life brain health in former U-M athletes and nonathletes.

  4. The fossilized skull of Coccocephalus wildi, an early ray-finned fish that swam in an estuary 319 million years ago. The fish is facing to the right, with the jaws visible in the lower right portion of the fossil. The eye socket is the circular, bumpy feature above the jaws. This fish would have been 6 to 8 inches long, about the size of a bluegill. Photo credit: Jeremy Marble, University of Michigan News.

    319-million-year-old fish preserves the earliest fossilized brain of a backboned animal

    The CT-scanned skull of a 319-million-year-old fossilized fish, pulled from a coal mine in England more than a century ago, has revealed the oldest example of a well-preserved vertebrate brain.

  5. Díaz in Cuba as a child. He is dressed in white with a light blue tie and has his harm on the shoulder of a younger child dressed in overalls with no shirt underneath. They look to be in school.

    From Cuba to chemical engineering: ‘I’m supposed to be here’

    Ph.D. student José Carlos Díaz first merged his knack for engineering and science by repairing microscopes for use in his sixth-grade class. He was 11 years old. He’s now an ion-diffusion researcher at one of the top chemical engineering programs in the U.S.

  6. Albert Shih, who leads the N95 project at U-M, visits the N95 and mask production factory floor of the industry lead DemeTECH. Image courtesy: Albert Shih.

    U-M researchers helping to develop a machine for on-demand N95 mask manufacturing

    Launched with $3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, the project aims to develop better respirators with new manufacturing processes that can be ramped up on demand, protecting both health care workers and the public.

Creativity and connection across prison walls

One of the world’s largest and longest-running exhibitions of incarcerated artists is back with new programming designed to foster connection and deepen public understanding of incarceration in Michigan. The 29th annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons, curated by U-M’s Prison Creative Arts Project, showcases 772 artworks by 538 artists incarcerated in 26 state prisons. The Duderstadt Center Gallery on U-M’s North Campus is presenting the artwork through April 1.

  • Most Wanted by Samantha Bachynski

    The exhibition features diverse styles and media, including paintings, portraits, tattoo imagery, landscapes, sculpture, fiber arts and found materials. Each fall, volunteers, including students, select the pieces and visit every prison in Michigan to interact directly with the artists. (See original image)

    Colorful night sky shows through tree branches. 2025 PCAP exhibition.

  • Tangerine Dreams by Matisse Bravo

    For over 35 years, PCAP has worked to bridge the gap between incarcerated individuals and the broader community through artistic collaboration, mutual learning and growth. The program has expanded to include undergraduate courses, weekly art workshops in Michigan prisons, an annual literary review and year-round events to foster dialogue and connection. (See original image)

    A plate of tangerines and tangerine slices on a green table with yellow wall. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Peacefulness by Susan Brown

    According to Emily Chase, PCAP’s exhibition and curatorial coordinator, themes of community and mentorship emerged strongly in this year’s collection. (See original image)

    Colorful landscape with stripes and a mountains. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Paths #2 by Kendall Leonard

    The exhibition allows incarcerated artists to have their voices heard beyond prison walls. “Their voices are so often silenced, and this is one of the few areas where they can feel heard,” says Mattie Levy, PCAP community engagement coordinator. (See original image)

    Colorful abstract painting from the 2025 PCAP exhibition.

  • Mountain Honey by Terry Stinebeck

    “We witnessed experienced artists mentoring newcomers and saw how the artistic efforts of one individual can motivate and inspire others,” says PCAP’s Emily Chase. (See original image)

    A serene landscape with a yellow sky and mountains. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • House of Kards by Michael Browning

    Visitors to the Duderstadt exhibition can experience an audio tour that features select stories from some of the artists. (See original image)

    Abstract painting of a face card from a deck of cards. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Happiness Within by Groot

    This year, the exhibition introduced a new event, “Art and Music: A Collaborative Concert,” in which students performed original musical compositions inspired by select artworks. (See original image)

    Abstract image of youth with a surreal balloon. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Garden Escapades by Tim Brownell

    The concert that complemented the exhibition was a way to empower and unite with people impacted by the justice system through a shared love of creativity, says Ty Bloomfield, one of the event’s organizers. (See original image)

    A farm scene with crops growing in rows and red barn. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • DMX by David Hudson-Bey

    The 2025 exhibition was presented with support from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the U-M Residential College. (See original image)

    Abstract of DMX painting with blues and greens. PCAP exhibition 2025.

  • Did I do that? by Daniel Teriberi

    For nearly three decades, the exhibition has provided a platform for incarcerated artists to share their work with the public, shedding light on personal narratives and the power of artistic expression. (See original image)

    Colorful abstract painting in 2025 PCAP exhibition.