Michael Peikert

Retired–Emergency Physician

Mike retired from a fulfilling medical career that included roles as Kalamazoo County EMS medical director, medical director of a helicopter program, medical center chief of staff, and a faculty member at Western Michigan University School of Medicine and residency program. His educational journey was unusual: he was enrolled in LSA for one year before transferring to U-M School of Pharmacy for three years, after which he was accepted into medical school at Wayne State University without an undergraduate degree. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Detroit Receiving Hospital. 

He grew up in a blue-collar home and was a first generation college student after being inspired to become a physician at age 16. Mike loved the educational component of being a physician and found teaching students and residents so rewarding he extended his career to continue doing so. He is especially grateful for the LSA instructors who stressed that literature and the arts were as important as science to medicine. 

Mike is competitive and loves the challenge of trying new sports, including many not found in the U.S —like beach paddleball in Crete. He is embracing pickleball as the sport de jour for the over-70 crowd.