Bidding Farewell to Kevin Newman, A Champion for Pathology
By Lynn McCain | June 6
Twenty-seven years ago, Michigan Medicine wisely hired a young man who had been working as a human resources officer for the City of Detroit, bringing him on board as an HR consultant. This Friday, we will bid him farewell as Kevin Newman retires. Eventually, Kevin was assigned to the Department of Pathology as our Human Resources Business Partner in 2016.
Newman, a native of Saginaw, Michigan, attended Central Michigan University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in human resources. He hadn’t started college with that degree in mind, but as he investigated several career options, human resources felt right. “What caught my attention was the involvement with the staff and all the components that make up their work. How well do they like the company, their benefits, and compensation? I was intrigued by all the different connections that were involved,” recalled Newman. While in college, Newman worked as a security guard for a small company. When he was ready to graduate, the company had grown and was looking for a human resources manager. “I was the one who filled that role, so I was able to start things from scratch, and that worked out very well.” Later, he moved to Coca-Cola and then on to the City of Detroit. “I just happened to come across an open position for an HR Consultant at the U-M Hospital. That was an environment that I had never been exposed to or worked in. I thought it was unique and different, so I pursued it.” Working in the health system, Newman was fortunate to have worked with other talented human resources leaders like Tim Wood, Jan Mulcrone, and Deborah Childs. “They showed me the ropes when it came to labor relations and things I needed to think about. While I had been involved with unions in the past, I had not previously been at the negotiating table. They mentored me through those things that I had not been exposed to.”
Newman supported numerous areas of the health system over the years, including facilities and other units that were supported by unions at the time. “I had a role to play in the labor agreements and administering labor contracts. At one point, I was over the house officers, and that was interesting. I got to learn much more about the educational flow for people who want to become doctors and faculty.”
In 2016, he transitioned to supporting Pathology. When he began, few members of the department were represented by unions, as compared to today, where UMAP and SEIU represent many. “What I enjoy most about my job is fixing problems. Most of my work involves helping people resolve issues. It is about dissecting it, picking it apart, and working through the process to solve it.” While he has worked in a healthcare environment for 27 years, Newman sheepishly admits that he doesn’t enjoy being in a hospital environment. “I’m not a fan of hospitals and medical procedures and that kind of activity.” Then, when he was assigned to Pathology, “they took me to the morgue and I saw a little more than I cared to see, but it was part of my job. Other areas of pathology were more benign, and it was interesting to see their operations. You definitely learn a lot in this job.”
Now that he is retiring, Newman looks forward to spending more time fishing, spending time with his wife, and planning their future together. “I take my fishing rod and tackle with me everywhere. I catch and release; I don’t want to kill the fish. Other than that, I don’t have any specific plans. We will figure it out as we go.”
We wish you a wonderful retirement, Kevin! You deserve it.
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