Capitol News

Ward and Mari Margaret Walstrom have donated $1 million to Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. The gift is intended to support education and research in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. The couple's motivation comes from personal experience with their daughter's undiagnosed health issues.

Mari Margaret Walstrom expressed hope that their contribution would help address gaps in women's health care knowledge. "Maybe this is just one little puzzle piece, to help solve the problem thousands of women across the world are experiencing: years of horrible pain with no answers or relief," she said. "We see this as a starting point to spare others from suffering...we have to start somewhere, to give women hope."

The donation will establish the Walstrom Family Endowed Women’s Health Research Fund, which aims to train early-career scientists and clinicians focused on women's health care and research. MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz acknowledged the significance of the gift: “We are grateful for the support of Ward and Mari Margaret Walstrom, which will inspire the next generation of medical clinicians and researchers in women’s health.”

The fund will pair medical and graduate students with research teams, supporting independent projects that were previously unattainable due to financial constraints. Four early-career graduate students from the College of Human Medicine have already been selected for funding.

Ward Walstrom emphasized their desire to aid MSU's research efforts in areas such as pelvic pain causes and drug effects on immune suppression. Additionally, the fund will sponsor events featuring leaders in women's health research.

College of Human Medicine Dean Aron Sousa highlighted the importance of addressing inflammatory pain affecting many women: “One in 10 women are facing inflammatory pain and other uterine challenges, and the Walstroms’ commitment provides a path of inspiration for others to make a difference at the college.”

MSU's Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology was ranked first by NIH funding among 67 universities last year according to Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research Report.

For more information about supporting women's health at MSU, contact chmdevelopment@msu.edu.