Dec 15, 2025
Kaylin Burton at the LSSU Commencement Ceremony
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Connor Tetzlaff, Assistant Director of University Marketing, [email protected]
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University proudly celebrates alumna Kaylin Burton ’25 (Biology) for her groundbreaking work in dementia care. Burton is the first medical student to pilot Michigan State University’s Intergenerational Living Initiative, which organizers describe as unprecedented nationwide. Through the initiative, Burton resides full-time in a senior living community, gaining hands-on experience supporting the care of older adults.
Hailing from the Upper Peninsula, Burton now calls Holland Home’s Raybrook campus in Grand Rapids home, where she engages daily with residents, including those living with dementia. The immersive program allows her to apply textbook knowledge to real-world care, fostering empathy and deepening her understanding of caring for older patients.
“Living and spending time with older adults and people living with dementia has strengthened my commitment to becoming a physician who sees the whole person, not just the disease,” Burton said. “This experience continues to reinforce my desire to practice medicine and care for older populations, while building meaningful relationships within the community I serve.”
Her dedication, compassion, and commitment to care are already making a remarkable impact, inspiring her mentors and communities.
“Kaylin is an exceptional person, and this experience is just one illustration of that,” said Britton Olson, professor of biology and pre-professional chair at Lake Superior State University. “She is achieving her professional goals and going beyond the expectations of a first-year medical student by fully immersing herself in this work. At LSSU, we work to help students excel in their professions and achieve their goals. Kaylin’s plans to study at the MSU-CHM Marquette campus and eventually return to the Upper Peninsula embody that vision. We could not be prouder of her.”
The Intergenerational Living Initiative represents a groundbreaking model in the United States, combining medical education with immersive, community-based care. Living alongside residents, students like Burton gain a holistic understanding of patient needs, strengthening skills and cultivating compassion that will last throughout their careers.
Burton credits mentorship and initiative as key factors in her path.
“I would encourage students to seek experiences related to their interests and reach out to their professors,” Burton shared. “My professors at LSSU were exceptionally supportive throughout my journey to medicine, and those connections truly opened doors and helped me reach my goals.”
