Michael Paklin Lukela, MD

Dr. Michael Lukela is an internist and pediatrician who currently serves as Director for the combined Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program at Michigan Medicine and Vice Chair for IMPOWER (Inspiring Medicine to Promote Opportunities for Well-Being, Engagement and Respect) in the Department of Internal Medicine.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with concentration in Biochemistry from Duke University and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency training in Medicine-Pediatrics at the University of Michigan, serving as Chief Resident for the Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program followed by an additional year as a Chief Resident in Pediatrics. He is a Professor of Internal Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians, and Senior Fellow in the Society of Hospital Medicine.

Dr. Lukela has been inducted into the Gold Humanism (GHHS) and Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Societies, League of Educational Excellence, and Academiae Laureati Medici (Clinical Excellence Society) at Michigan Medicine. As a clinician educator, Dr. Lukela is the recipient of multiple teaching awards including the Bronze Beeper Award, Marvin H. Pollard Award for Outstanding Teaching of Residents, and Kaiser Permanente Clinical Teaching Award, the highest award offered by the University for excellence in teaching medical students. His commitment to learners has been recognized by multiple Tokens of Appreciations from Medical Students (TAMS), as a recipient of the Thomas G. Varbedian Award. He was instrumental in developing the M-Home Learning Community at the University of Michigan Medical School and served as inaugural Director for the William Henry Fitzbutler House.

Nationally, his commitment to medical education has been recognized through his election to the Executive Committee for the Medicine-Pediatrics Program Directors' Association (MPPDA), including a term as President for the organization. He received the national Leadership Award in Medicine-Pediatrics from MPPDA in 2020. He serves as a member of the General Examination Oversight and MOCA Peds Committees for the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and Core Competency Committee for the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM).

His academic and research interests are in professional development, community engagement, well-being, and educational assessment. As a clinician educator, Dr. Lukela works to inspire and empower students and residents to become the next generation of physician leaders to care for the needs of children and adults across our communities.

Outside of the hospital, he coaches competitive soccer (formerly Olympic Development Program and local club; currently high school and collegiate club), competes in marathons and distance triathlons, and loves spending time with his wife (a primary care physician and Vice Chief for Clinical Strategy in the Division of General Medicine), sons, and doggies.

His areas of clinical interest include patient safety and alcohol withdrawal. In addition, he is involved in both undergraduate and graduate medical education with an interest in teaching and evaluation.

University of Michigan Health participates with most health insurance plans.

1. Medical education
2. Patient Safety
3. Alcohol Withdrawal