Dr. Rob Steele, a cardiologist and popular Republican announced yesterday that he would seek the U of M regent position. From a press release yesterday:
Ann Arbor - Dr. Rob Steele announced today that he is running for the University of Michigan Board of Regents. He will seek to be nominated at the 2012 Michigan Republican Party Convention.
"As a fourth generation Wolverine, I am deeply committed to the continued success of one of the world's finest institutions for research and higher learning. I am extremely concerned with the affordability and access to the University for the best and brightest students from the State of Michigan. Keeping these students in the State for their education is the first step in keeping Michigan's intellectual capital at home; a step that is critical in securing the state's competitiveness in the future. The University of Michigan's total budget is over $5.5 billion, with more than half of that coming from federal research grants and the University Health System. It is time that the Board of Regents have at least one member of the board who has personal experience with research and medicine," said Dr. Steele.
Dr. Robert Steele grew up in Greenville Michigan. He was educated at the University of Michigan, graduating from Inteflex, the 6-year integrated pre-medical/medical program with his bachelor's degree (High Honors) in 1978, and his medical degree in 1981. Dr. Steele served as a clinical assistant professor of medicine at UM Medical School for more than 20 years.
In 2010, Steele was the GOP nominee against John Dingell. He held Dingell to his lowest percentage of vote in his 55-year career in Congress.
A founding shareholder of Michigan Heart P.C., he served many years on the Board of Directors and chaired the Finance Committee of the practice that grew to include over 30 physicians, and 300 employees with seven permanent and two satellite offices in five counties. In 2011, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System acquired Michigan Heart P.C. Dr. Steele continues in the full-time practice of cardiology. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of a large non-profit managed care organization, and multiple community non-profits, as well as various medical staff, and physician
organization committees.
Dr. Steele and his wife, Phyllis Boniface MD, a psychiatrist with a busy practice specializing in psycho-pharmacology, have four children, including a son and a daughter who have graduated from college. They have one daughter in college and one attending public school in Ann Arbor.
