Q&A: Dr. Bernard J. Costello on Leading a New Era of Health Affairs at Wayne State

As Wayne State University charts a bold new course in health education, research and community care, Dr. Bernard J. Costello, senior vice president for Health Affairs, is at the helm. With a national track record of academic and clinical innovation, Dr. Costello joined the university in early 2025 and is guiding Wayne State into a transformative future rooted in Detroit and powered by collaboration, compassion, and community-driven discovery.

A Vision for Integrated Health Affairs

Regarding his role and the university's mission, Dr. Costello notes: Wayne State’s mission deeply resonates with me—especially its commitment to the city of Detroit. He explains the structural goals by stating: We are creating a truly integrated Health Affairs enterprise. That means uniting the strengths of the School of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and our emerging school of public health to educate compassionate healers and bold innovators. Together, we train students to work across disciplines, tackle complex health challenges, and improve outcomes for the communities we serve. We do this as a synergized team of faculty, staff, and students, and also do this in partnership with the region’s health systems.

Community-Driven Innovation and Public Health

When discussing the role of the community, Costello emphasizes: It’s central. Ultimately, it’s all about caring for people. Our faculty, students, and alumni are embedded in clinics and outreach programs across the city. This is urban health innovation at its best. Our Wayne Health Mobile Units have served nearly 100,000 patients. And our new Health Sciences Research Building will be a beacon for community-partnered research—where Detroit residents help shape the research questions and the solutions.

Concerning the new school of public health, he highlights: The opportunity to build a school of public health for Detroit, shaped by Detroit. Public health needs are urgent in Michigan—developing guidance on chronic disease treatment, preventable hospitalizations, solving workforce shortages—and we are uniquely positioned to meet them. With plans for expanded master's degree and Ph.D. programs and initial accreditation later in 2026, this school will prepare the next generation of leaders to confront disparities and improve lives across the state.

Fast-Tracking Discovery and Therapy

The forthcoming Health Sciences Research Building will be a hub for interdisciplinary discovery and team science. It will be a powerhouse of interdisciplinary discovery and team science. Dr. Costello explains that by fostering collaboration among talented investigators, clinicians, and community stakeholders, we aim to reduce the typical 10-to-15-year lag between discovery and deployment of critical therapies. We will fast-track new treatments, technologies, and interventions. This facility isn’t just about labs—it’s about better lives. And it’s about fueling economic growth through innovation and talent development right here in Detroit.

Summary of Key Initiatives

Shaping Compassionate Healers

In practice, Dr. Costello focuses on shaping compassionate healers for the common good. He says: It means training health professionals who don’t just treat diseases or prescribe medicines—they work with and care for the people, their families, and the communities they live in. The Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic operated by our College of Nursing’s practice group is a great example. Born from a needs assessment in the Virginia Park neighborhood, it fills critical gaps in primary and mental health care while simultaneously providing students from all our health science schools with hands-on training and clinical care opportunities. We are not only teaching health care—we are teaching humanistic healing and doing it in teams.