Honorary Alumni Award

Dr. Malcolm Field, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, is the Medical Director of the St. Mary's of Michigan Field Neurosciences Institute (FNI) in Saginaw, Michigan.  Dr. Field has been practicing for over 61 years and was instrumental in establishing support for Central Michigan University's (CMU) neuroscience research.

In 2001, Dr. Field and FNI established the Field Neuroscience Laboratory for Restorative Neurology by providing a $250k gift to initiate research into using stem cells and devising new ways to treat brain injury and disease. Over the next 15 years, Dr. Field and FNI have continued supporting the research in the lab at CMU by donating approximately $50k per year.

In 2010, Dr. Field gave $1.5 million to establish the E. Malcolm Field and Gary Leo Dunbar Endowed Chair of Neuroscience.

Beyond the $2.5 million contributions over the past 25 years, Dr. Field and FNI continue to support neuroscience research and education at CMU, both through ongoing financial contributions and volunteering time and expertise toward the shared mission of finding ways to help those suffering from injury or disease to the brain or spinal cord.

For the past three decades, Dr. Field has provided his professional expertise by giving special lectures and keynote addresses at special occasions (such as the Brain Awareness Week events). In addition, he has provided CMU students the opportunity to shadow him during surgeries or in clinics and meet with students at CMU's campus or in Saginaw to review and discuss research projects. Dr. Field's professional office has provided internships and jobs for graduates of CMU's Physician Assistant program. He has volunteered his services in helping to launch CMU's College of Medicine and is devoting a great deal of time and effort to helping to launch a new School of Neuroscience at CMU.

Dr. Field serves as an adjunct faculty member in the CMU College of Medicine (CMED), gives lectures to CMED students, and serves as a volunteer advisor to CMU's Program in Neuroscience.

The Saginaw resident and his wife, Lois, also are active in the Saginaw community and established two chairs of higher learning at Saginaw Valley State University.