Organization Names & Usage 

Below are guidelines for how to refer to our organization and its parts, in written text or verbal conversation. Please email identity-questions@med.umich.edu with questions or feedback. 

Michigan Medicine

Michigan Medicine is our master brand, bridging the clinical, research and educational activities of the University of Michigan’s academic medical center.


When To Use

Use when referring to the overall organization, or to activities that span more than one of our missions — clinical care, research and education.


First & Second References

Michigan Medicine


Descriptive Reference

Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of University of Michigan


Longer Reference

Michigan Medicine, which encompasses the clinical, research and educational efforts of University of Michigan Health and University of Michigan Medical School

University of Michigan Medical School

The University of Michigan Medical School trains physicians, scientists and other health care professionals, and is one of the nation’s top biomedical research institutions. It includes the departments through which our faculty hold their academic appointments.


When To Use

Use when referring to educational or research activities, or departmental news and activities.


First References

University of Michigan Medical School, Michigan Medicine OR University of Michigan Medical School, part of Michigan Medicine

"Jones chose to continue his training at University of Michigan Medical School, Michigan Medicine."

"Jones chose to continue his training at University of Michigan Medical School, part of Michigan Medicine."


Second References

U-M Medical School, the medical school, U-M medical students, U-M

"The medical school's members make room for idea-sharing and feedback among students and staff."


Longer Reference

University of Michigan Medical School, the education and research arm of Medicine Medicine

"The simulated paging curriculum was developed at University of Michigan Medical School, the education and research arm of Michigan Medicine."

University of Michigan Health

University of Michigan Health is how we refer to the clinical portion of our organization, including our hospitals, health centers, centers of excellence and all patient care programs. 


When To Use

Use when referring to patient care and care delivery.


First References

University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine OR University of Michigan Health, part of Michigan Medicine

"Jake was referred to see a specialist at University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine."

"Jake was referred to see a specialist at University of Michigan Health, part of Michigan Medicine."


Second References

University of Michigan Health, U-M Health

"U-M Health was the first to offer access to fetal interventions for patients like Claire."

Although U-M is usually pronounced “U of M” when spoken, this abbreviation should not be used in written text.


Descriptive Reference

University of Michigan Health, the clinical arm of Michigan Medicine

"The distinction was awarded to University of Michigan Health, the clinical arm of Michigan Medicine."


Statewide Clinical Network

In addition to the hospitals and health centers that are part of our academic medical center, the U-M Health statewide clinical network also includes two regional hospital systems.

The U-M Health regional hospitals in our statewide clinical network use hyphenation in their names to denote which system is being referred to. 

i.e. University of Michigan Health-Sparrow and University of Michigan Health-West

Note that when these names are being abbreviated for internal or secondary use, the hyphen is placed before the reference to the system, NOT between the U and M as is otherwise displayed in references to U-M Health.

i.e. UM Health-Sparrow and UM Health-West

This practice is consistent with the abbreviation used for the various U-M academic campuses, i.e. UM-Dearborn, NOT U-M-Dearborn. 

Programs, centers and institutes

Michigan Medicine is home to a number of interdisciplinary programs, centers and institutes across all three parts of our mission. Consider whether the primary focus of the program, center or institute is primarily aligned with the clinical part of our mission, or with the research and education parts of our mission, when determining how to reference the program in spoken word or written text.

Hospitals and centers that provide clinical care are associated with University of Michigan Health.


Examples:


Programs, centers and institutes that are primarily organized around research are associated with Michigan Medicine. In the case of some donor-named centers, due to the length of the center name, it can be acceptable to say "Michigan Medicine" either before OR after the center when used in the first reference.


Examples:


Second References

Second references to any program, center or institute can refer to the program center or institute independently.


Example:


Special Updates: D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion

In 2025, U-M Health will open our new 264-bed, 690,000-square-foot hospital—The D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion. Here are some tips to guide references to the pavilion.


Other Notes



U-M References

U-M is the approved shortened reference to “University of Michigan” across the institution. It can be used broadly as a shorthand way to refer to any part of the University of Michigan, including parts of the medical enterprise in second references within a story.


For example, U-M can be used in reference to a common noun (“U-M doctors” or “my training at U-M”).


U-M can also be used when character counts are a constraint (i.e. Twitter, etc).