Erin M. Larowe named Medical School director of communications

Erin M. Larowe, MBA, has been named director of communications for the Medical School, effective Aug. 9. She currently leads communications for the Department of Surgery.

Larowe will advance the work that was started last July after a comprehensive review of the communications function within the Medical School, which informed the development of the following goals: 

• Design a comprehensive and aligned strategy, structure and process for meeting the overall communication needs of Medical School and its departments, institutes and centers;
• Enable communication professionals to flourish by better leveraging talent and through enabling strong professional development and peer networking;
• Improve overall brand strength and strategies, while better aligning marketing and communication disciplines within Michigan Medicine; and
• Improve resource utilization and cost efficiencies.

Larowe has extensive communication expertise and experience from a career spanning more than 20 years at the University of Michigan. During her time at Michigan, she has continued to build a strong reputation as a leader, mentor, and strategic communicator with a track record of executing complex projects.

Her most recent work in the Department of Surgery focused on building communication platforms to support and showcase efforts around faculty and trainee academic development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and institutional positioning for recruitment. Following the vision of former Surgery chair Dr. Michael Mulholland and current chair Dr. Justin Dimick, her team's work has contributed to the department's unique national reputation for an inclusive culture, innovative research and leaders in academic achievement. 

Larowe received a bachelor’s degree in fine art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a master's degree in business administration from Eastern Michigan University.