Chris Friese, PhD, RN

One more day for public comments: www.regulations.gov/docket/ED-20...

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Suprematism, by Nikolai Suetin, 1920-21, 📸 by @tiltoncreative

This local Wolfdog joined an Olympic ski event and triggered the finish-line camera. This is Nazgul. He snuck into a cross-country skiing sprint this morning and raced the homestretch with some competitors before being escorted home. 14/10 someone get him a medal

Federal loan cap on grad students threatens to worsen nursing shortage The U.S. nursing shortage would worsen under a plan to cap federal student loans, a move the Department of Education said would drop tuition rates.

The U.S. nursing shortage would worsen under a plan to cap federal student loans, a move the Department of Education said would drop tuition rates.

Federal loan cap on grad students threatens to worsen nursing shortage The U.S. nursing shortage would worsen under a plan to cap federal student loans, a move the Department of Education said would drop tuition rates.

"Placing a monetary limit on graduate students' federal student loans would worsen the nation's nursing shortage..."
Important context from current students and nursing school leaders in today's @detroitnews.com [personal post]
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/e...

Dunkel as a puppy

Dunkel at six salt and pepper mini schnauzer

Six years ago this little guy entered the scene. He's goofy and lovable. And he's made the past six years incredibly fun and interesting. Happy Birthday Dunkel!

A 'Vicious Cycle': How Nursing Shortage Could Worsen Under Trump Team's Plan Proposed rule may have 'chilling effect' on graduate nurse applicants, hurt overall RN pool

A 'Vicious Cycle': How Nursing Shortage Could Worsen Under Trump Team's Plan #HealthPolicy www.medpagetoday.com/nursing/nurs...

One in Three Nurses Have Student Loan Debt TUESDAY, Feb. 3, 2026 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly a third of registered nurses and advanced practice nurses in Michigan have student loan debt, according to a st

As federal rulemaking continues, evidence of the burdens of nurses' student loans continues. The question is what kind of health care workforce do we want? www.healthday.com/healthpro-ne...

History of the symphony
Sociology of medicine & bioethics
Health & social policy
History of the American South
Spanish for medical professionals

❤️

This thread by one of our members who studies health care workforce issues highlights the value of a rapid-turnaround data analysis and publication to inform a policy that could affect the decisions of prospective health care and research professionals:

Here are the Top 5 Dogs of the week!

Nurses Carry Substantial Student Loans: Health Care Workforce Implications Christopher R Friese, Lara Khadr, Deanna J Marriott, Barbara R Medvec, Marita G Titler; Nurses Carry Substantial Student Loans: Health Care Workforce Impli

3/3 The full paper can be viewed here (freely accessible). I hope these data are helpful as individuals & organizations respond to the call for public comments. academic.oup.com/healthaffair...

Visual abstract

2/3 Our team analyzed original data & published those findings *57 days* later . We found that nursing student loan debt is pervasive & burdensome. Of advanced practice nurses with debt, nearly a third exceeded the proposed lifetime borrowing cap of $100,00.

Reimagining and Improving Student Education The Secretary proposes to amend the regulations for the Federal student loan programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended (the title IV, HEA programs) to im...

Personal post: The federal government has posted their call for public comments on caps for graduate student loans. A brief thread 1/3. The deadline to submit comments is March 2, 2026. The link is here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

Proposed caps on loans for nursing students could threaten access to health care, study finds A U of M study found that close to 30% of registered nurses and advanced practice nurses have student loan debt that could influence them to leave the profession.

New reporting on our latest study: capping graduate nursing student loans threatens access and quality of care. #healthpolicy www.michiganpublic.org/health/2026-...

Here's one of many pieces on this idea: thehill.com/opinion/heal...

Public Inspection: Medicare Program: Ensuring Safety through Domestic Security with Made in America Personal Protective Equipment and Essential Medicine Procurement by Medicare Participating Hospitals Medicare Program: Ensuring Safety through Domestic Security with Made in America Personal Protective Equipment and Essential Medicine Procurement by Medicare Participating Hospitals

Attention health care workers (& those who love them)
During peak COVID, Colleagues & I called for strengthened & coordinated efforts to assure the US had adequate PPE during a public health emergency. CMS will issue a call for comment on 1/29: #healthpolicy www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe...

You can't find anyone more trusted in health care -- or maybe anywhere -- than nurses.

Nursing student loans visual abstract. Summarizes paper in health affairs scholar.

4/4 Capping loans may limit entry into APN programs—risking shortages in primary, specialty, and faculty roles. Full analysis just published in Health Affairs Scholar. doi.org/10.1093/hasc...

Nursing student loans visual abstract. Summarizes paper in health affairs scholar.

4/4 Capping loans may limit entry into APN programs—risking shortages in primary, specialty, and faculty roles. Full analysis just published in Health Affairs Scholar. doi.org/10.1093/hasc...

nurses with student debt cite inadequate pay and benefits as reasons for actual or planned job departure more often than those without debt

3/4 Crucially: 29% of APNs with loans already >$100k. Financial stress impacts career choices—nurses with debt 5x more likely to cite pay as reason for leaving.

5.6% of surveyed RNs reported loan balances > $100,000. Median Loan Balance: $33,210.

28.9% of APNs reported loan balances > $100,000. Median Loan Balance $66,420.

2/4 Our team at U-M rapidly re-analyzed responses from >13,000 Michigan nurses. 28% of RNs, 33% of APNs have student debt. Median balance: $33k (RNs) & $66k (APNs).

Nurses Carry Substantial Student Loans: Health Care Workforce Implications Christopher R Friese, Lara Khadr, Deanna J Marriott, Barbara R Medvec, Marita G Titler; Nurses Carry Substantial Student Loans: Health Care Workforce Impli

“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.” – W. Edwards Deming

Among the many challenges facing US nurses, the Dept. of Education has proposed a $100k lifetime cap on grad nursing student loans—major implications for workforce. 🧵1/4 #HealthPolicy
doi.org/10.1093/hasc...

Nearly 1/3 of registered nurses and advanced practice nurses in Michigan carry sizable student loan debt that is influencing their decision to leave the profession, according to a new study from #UMich.

Study and full story: myumi.ch/Qw4xZ

In times of crisis, I often reflect back to Fred Rogers' comment: look to the helpers. And that simple phrase has brought me great comfort in challenging times.

But when the helpers are killed, I'm not sure where you go after that.

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Details on New Research Funding Program

Important new funding opportunity for @umich faculty whose research funding has been disrupted. research.umich.edu/details-on-n...

graphical abstract. Left is a fungal cell surrounded by bacteria, and the Hog1 cascade is turned on. Right is a fungal cell covered in mannan fibrils that prevent IgA and caspofungin and increase CLR recognition by macrophages

Candida albicans is usually hanging out with bacterial neighbors, so what happens to the fungus during co-culture?
The bacteria secrete metabolites that induce massive cell wall remodeling that change immune recognition and drug resistance. Read more in our new paper: www.cell.com/current-biol...

Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand, by Albrecht Dürer, 1508 (detail), 📸 via @johnewing

Man with a Beer Jug, by Frans Hals, 1630, 📸 by @zachosterman.bsky.social