THE MICHIGAN LUPUS FOUNDATION APPOINTS NEW MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AMID FUNDING EFFORTS
(Michigan – July 31, 2025) – The Michigan Lupus Foundation is pleased to announce five new members were recently appointed to its Board of Directors: Dr. Carol Beals of Grand Ledge, Dr. Zeinab Saleh of Ann Arbor, Dr. Nancy Vandewiele Milligan of Ann Arbor, Lauren Davis of Grand Rapids and Precious Hackett of Southfield. Each new member will help the foundation serve its mission to improve the quality of life for those living with lupus through support, education and research with the goal of finding a cure.
“We are excited to expand our board with five new members whose talents, medical expertise and energy are welcomed additions to our fight against lupus,” said Board President Harry Bhogal. “Expanding our board during a crucial capital fundraising campaign will help the foundation make new and meaningful connections and advancements in the lupus community throughout the entire state.”
About Dr. Carol Beals
Dr. Carol Beals of Grand Ledge, MI is a retired rheumatologist with decades of experience treating hundreds of patients in the Lansing area. She established the Beals Institute, later renamed the Great Lakes Center of Rheumatology, which provides the highest quality and state-of-the-art health care for arthritis, autoimmune diseases and osteoporosis. She designed the medical center to have a comprehensive approach to medicine with a clinical center, x-ray division, laboratory, infusion center and bone density center along with clinical studies research with ongoing studies. She received her Bachelor of Science BSRN from Michigan State University, Medical Degree from the MSU College of Human Medicine, completed her Internal Medicine Residency at MSU and Rheumatology Fellowship at U of M. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Dr. Beals has volunteered for Highfields, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, MSU Broad Art Museum, Women Working Wonders for the Sparrow Cancer Center, the Michigan Arthritis Foundation and has given several lectures for the foundation over the years. Dr. Beals looks forward to helping the foundation with education initiatives.
About Dr. Zeinab Saleh
Dr. Zeinab Saleh of Ann Arbor, MI is a rheumatologist at Michigan Medicine with a clinical and research focus on systemic lupus erythematosus. She brings frontline clinical expertise and academic insight into lupus care. Her work includes leading quality improvement initiatives to optimize hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) use and developing patient education tools to support adherence and understanding. Dr. Saleh serves in several leadership roles at Michigan Medicine, is a member of the Clinical Innovation Committee, Peer Review Committee and Clinical Competency Committee, and is actively involved in teaching medical trainees.
Dr. Saleh is dedicated to advancing patient education, supporting outreach efforts and fostering research that improves outcomes for individuals living with lupus across Michigan. Her primary passion is patient education and she will bring this focus to the Michigan Lupus Foundation to help empower individuals living with lupus.
About Dr. Nancy Vandewiele Milligan
Dr. Nancy Vandewiele Milligan of Ann Arbor, MI is a retired occupational therapist from the University of Michigan where she founded the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program at University of Michigan-Flint. Dr. Milligan practiced and taught occupational therapy for 45 years.
She has extensive experience serving on university, health professional organization and community committees and boards. She has participated in advocacy activities in Lansing for the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association. Dr. Milligan has volunteered for the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association, Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Science, University of Michigan-Flint College of Health Sciences Committees, American Occupational Therapy Association, OT International, International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 2014-2023, Michigan Occupational Therapy Educational Consortium and a commissioner for the City of Ann Arbor.
Dr. Milligan currently enjoys retirement and traveling to Europe and Hawaii to see her children. Her niece was recently diagnosed with lupus, which led her to get involved with the Michigan Lupus Foundation during its time of need.
About Lauren Davis, LMSW
Lauren Davis of Grand Rapids, MI is an Emergency Room Licensed Master Social Worker at Corewell Health and has worked in the medical setting for a decade. Her experience within the field has provided her with a strong knowledge base of medical symptoms, diagnoses and treatment options. As a social worker, she is well versed in barriers that affect individuals from seeking or receiving medical care and support. Lauren has a personal connection to lupus as her best friend of over twenty years has the disease.
Lauren attended Blessed Sacrament grade school, Catholic Central High School, Michigan State University for a BA in Psychology and completed her MA in Social Work at Western Michigan University. She completed internships within the VA Health System, Faith Hospice and Volunteers of America. Lauren works as an ER Social Worker at Butterworth Hospital and resource for Mary Free Bed Acute Rehab.
Lauren enjoys spending her free time with her husband and their two children.
About Precious Hackett
Precious Hackett of Southfield, MI is a lupus warrior, patient advocate and dedicated volunteer. She is a retired Local Resource Coordinator from Consumers Energy and has a bachelors degree in communications from the University of Detroit Mercy. She has been living with lupus for over 34 years.
Precious has past volunteer experience with her church, school PTA, Motor Mom’s and Dad’s committee and Box Tops for Education. She is a wife, mother and sister to a host of brothers and sisters. Precious has been volunteering for the Michigan Lupus Foundation for over a decade and is committed to helping others living with lupus.
About Lupus
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own healthy tissues and organs. It can affect any part of the body causing widespread pain and inflammation. Common symptoms include crippling fatigue, fever and joint pain. Lupus affects each person differently and may go into periods of flares and remissions. More people have lupus than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia and cystic fibrosis combined. It is estimated that over 14,000 Michiganders have been diagnosed with the disease and between 322,000 and 1.5 million people in the entire United States. Lupus primarily affects young women between the ages of 15-45 years old and occurs more frequently in women of African American, Hispanic, or Asian descent. There is currently no cure for lupus.
About the MI Lupus Foundation
The Michigan Lupus Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that exists to improve the quality of life for those living with lupus through support, education and research with the goal of finding a cure. The foundation provides financial and informational resources for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. The MI Lupus Foundation has been continually serving Michigan since 1974 and is working to build a brighter future for all lupus patients and their families. For more information, visit http://milupus.org.
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