Economic Alliance for Michigan
Bret Jackson
President and CEO
Bret Jackson is the President and CEO of the non-profit Economic Alliance for Michigan (EAM). Founded in 1982, the EAM is comprised of businesses and unions working together with one clear objective, the continued growth of Michigan’s economy by creating an atmosphere that inspires job growth and maintains Michigan’s competitiveness for attracting new companies and talent. EAM’s membership provides health benefits to an estimated 900,000 lives, creating a powerful voice in the health purchaser industry.
Bret began working at the EAM in 2007 as legislative director. In 2010, he was elected vice president and became the organization’s third president in January 2011. Bret oversees all EAM activities including policy development, research, education, administration, membership, and advocacy. He developed and manages the EAM Health Purchaser Forums, Oncology Symposium, and other various health purchaser roundtables.
With the EAM as The Leapfrog Group’s Regional Leader for Michigan, Bret is a leader in advocating for patient safety in the State of Michigan and completed The Leapfrog Group’s Bruce Bradley Fellowship in 2017. He serves as chair of the Health Policy Affinity Group and on the Board of Governors for the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. In 2020, Bret was appointed to the National Quality Forum Patient Safety Standing Committee.
Outside of EAM, Bret loves spending time with his family and is very active in the Detroit Curling Club. Email Bret at bretjackson@eamonline.org.
Stacy Leick
Vice President
Before joining the EAM in 2014 as communications director, Stacy worked for Digital First Media and CBS as a research director. She has over twenty years of communications, research, and marketing experience and specializes in website development, media relations and social media content.
At EAM she spearheads the Maternity Care Project, providing education to moms-to-be about the dangers of elective C-sections and elective early delivery. The project is also leading efforts in discovering ways to lessen racial disparities in maternal and infant care within the State of Michigan. Learn more at www.maternitycareproject.com.
Stacy is a decorated graduate of Oakland University, winning awards for writing and research. Outside of EAM, Stacy loves being outside enjoying all the seasons of Michigan with her family. Email Stacy at stacyleick@eamonline.org.
Mike Grudzinski
Director of Membership and Development
Mike joined the EAM team in 2020 as the Director of Membership and Development. A proven team leader, Mike has over twenty years of experience in the automotive and defense industries working for multi-national, multi-state corporations in the areas of business development, project management and engineering.
At EAM, Mike focuses on outreach, member services and membership development.
Mike received his engineering degree from Michigan State University. Outside of EAM, Mike is an avid curler at the Detroit Curling Club and loves relaxing with his family and friends.
Contact Mike at mike@eamonline.org to learn how EAM can help your company or organization.
Rachel Ungar
Manager of Research and Data Analytics
Rachel Ungar is a public health researcher, focused on program evaluation and healthcare economics. Before joining EAM in 2024, Rachel worked for United Health Group, leading research interventions and survey initiatives focused on improving physical and mental well-being health outcomes. She has experience translating scientific findings and research discoveries into scientific publications, presentations, and issue briefs to stakeholders across various industries.
Rachel received her master’s in public health from Northern Illinois University. Outside of EAM, Rachel enjoys cycling, reading, and spending time with her family.
Dr. Suresh K. Mukherji
Medical Director
Suresh K. Mukherji, MD, MBA, FACR received his undergraduate degree from Duke University (1983) and M. D. degree from Georgetown University (1987). After finishing his Radiology residency at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School (1992), he completed a 2-year Neuroradiology Fellow, with emphasis on head and neck imaging, at the University of Florida in 1994. His academic positions include being Director of Head & Neck Radiology at University of North Carolina, Division Director of Neuroradiology at University of Michigan and Chair of Radiology at Michigan State University. He is currently Clinical Professor of Radiology at the University of Illinois and also holds appointments in Radiation Oncology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery at Michigan State University. He currently serves as the National Director of Head & Neck Radiology at ProScan Imaging and Regional Medical Director at Envision Physician Services.
Dr. Mukherji is a recognized authority in Head & Neck and Neuroradiology. His primary scientific interests have focused on investigating emerging metabolic and physiologic imaging techniques to evaluate head and neck cancer and to differentiate recurrent tumors from post-therapeutic changes. These technologies include imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose analogues imaged with prototype Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Gamma Cameras, standard PET, and CT-PET. Other metabolic and physiologic imaging techniques he has investigated include Thallium-201, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, CT perfusion and CT spectral imaging. He has been the Principal Investigator and co-investigator on numerous NIH and society grants and has authored over 500 scientific manuscripts, book chapters and editorials. Dr. Mukherji is a devoted educator and has been an invited speaker on over 500 occasions. He has written or edited 15 textbooks and is the Consulting Editor for both Neuroimaging Clinics and Magnetic Resonance Clinics of North America and Associate Editor for the Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography.
Dr. Mukherji has extensive administrative experience and received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan in 2013. He is very active in a variety of socioeconomic and health care policy initiatives at the local, state and national levels. His administrative experience includes being a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Michigan Faculty Group Practice, Neuroradiology Division Director, Radiology Department Chair, Chief Medical Officer and Vice Chair & Chair of the Certificate of Need Commission for the State of Michigan.
Dr. Mukherji is a member of the Medical Directors Advisory Council (MDAC) of the National Alliance of Health Care Purchasers Coalition which is a purchaser-led organization with a national and regional structure dedicated to driving health and healthcare value across the country. Coalition members represent more than 12,000 employers and purchasers and 45 million Americans, spending $300 billion annually on healthcare. His role on the MDAC to develop an organizational strategy for the National Alliance of Health Care Purchasers Coalition to define quality and optimize the health care spend devoted to imaging. He also currently serves as the Medical Director for Economic Alliance of Michigan and Kentuckiana Health Collaborative.
Economic Alliance for Michigan 