Paying it Forward

Author | Lauren Crawford

Top photo by Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography

Hannah Cheriyan was born with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Close to asphyxiation, she was airlifted to U-M's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and placed on an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, or ECMO, machine, where she remained for days. Almost 22 years later, Cheriyan is now a first-year medical student and fellow in the U-M Medical Scientist Training Program, and she has even worked in the very lab that saved her life. At the 2015 White Coat Ceremony, she was cloaked by Robert Bartlett (M.D. 1963), professor emeritus of surgery, credited with developing ECMO.

[Being cloaked by Bartlett] hit home how long this journey has been for me — from NICU baby to thriving med student — and also for Dr. Bartlett and ECMO. The children he saved years ago are growing up, having their own lives and leaving their own marks on the world. I'm glad that he could be there to cloak me, to see the tremendous impact he has had on my life! —Hannah Cheriyan

More Articles About: Students Medical School White Coat Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
Featured News & Stories black and white photo of mustafa saadi standing in front of a building
Medicine at Michigan
From investment banker to future doctor
Mustafa Saadi, M4, started in the finance world and is finding a second career in medicine.
 headshot of alice zheng wearing a black blazer and purple blouse
Medicine at Michigan
Alice Zheng was once skeptical of business
The course of Alice Zheng’s life changed when she audited a class at the U-M Ross School of Business during her first year of medical school. Before taking the class, Zheng was skeptical of business. Now she’s a venture capitalist supporting women’s health.
 Watercolor illustration of two women in conversation sitting in chairs and facing each other.
Medicine at Michigan
Q&A: Advice for an aspiring physician
A physician-scientist talks with a new medical student about what it takes to achieve career goals — and work-life balance.
 headshot of henry bell. he has glasses and is wearing a tuxedo with a gold and blue bowtie.
Medicine at Michigan
An early injury inspired a career in medicine
When Henry Bell Jr. was a young boy, his sister was mowing the lawn and ran over the rock, which hit him in the eye. He spent two weeks in the hospital and discovered his dream: to become an ophthalmologist.
 Timothy Blackwell, M.D.
News Release
Timothy S. Blackwell, M.D., named the chair of U-M Department of Internal Medicine
Lung disease specialist comes to Michigan from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine to lead largest department
 NIH rankings FFY23
News Release
U-M Medical School sees significant growth in NIH research awards and ranking
Based on recent federal fiscal year data released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest single funder of biomedical research in the world, the U-M Medical School is ranked number 11 in the country, up from 13 in federal fiscal year 2022.