Empowering Future Physicians: Conversations with Dr. Michelle Solik, Part 1

In the first part of this two-part series, we dove into Dr. Solik’s education and career, and how it shaped her into an educator and mentor.

Meet Dr. Michelle Solik

I had the opportunity to talk to one of MU-WCOM’s newest professors, Michelle Solik, MD, MS, FACP. Dr. Solik accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Primary Care and Internal Medicine in July of 2025. Very soon into our conversation, it was apparent how much education and mentorship meant to Dr. Solik as a student, physician, and professor. In the first part of this two-part series, we will dive into Dr. Solik’s education and how it shaped her interest in educating future physicians.

Training at Wright State: A Full‑Circle Moment

Dr. Solik attended the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine and graduated in 2014. When discussing her education, she had very positive things to say about her time as a student.“The curriculum and faculty were great; my clinical rotations were awesome; and I have now—especially being in the job that I am in now—have a lot more of a deeper appreciation for what experiences I had as a student, being able to really understand what happens behind the scenes to be able to provide lectures to you guys and to teach you guys some of these clinical skills,” she said. “It's been a very full circle moment in that sense.”

Residency and Rapid Rise at St. Vincent

After medical school, Dr. Solik completed her Internal Medicine residency at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. She was the chief resident during her third year and joined the teaching faculty when she graduated. She was an associate program director for the transitional year residency program and eventually transitioned to program director, as well as serving as an associate program director for the Internal Medicine residency program.

Mentors Who Shaped Her Path

When discussing her time on faculty at St. Vincent, Dr. Solik said, “I had some really great mentors throughout my residency experience that allowed me to recognize that education was what my mantra was—that’s the space I wanted to be with learners and being able to mentor and help develop them. I had some really great opportunities at St. V’s. It was really hard to walk away, but when you have an opportunity at Marian to teach, that’s not something you can walk away from either.”

Having been in multiple leadership positions within the St. Vincent Internal Medicine department, I was curious what Dr. Solik’s leadership style looked like or how it evolved. She mentioned her predecessor, Dr. Laurel Fick, and the mentorship she provided to Dr. Solik in this role.

Values First: Compassion, Curiosity, Care

“She (Dr. Fick) modeled a lot of the stuff I hold very close to my mantra of what kind of doctor I want to be and what kind of doctor I expect my residents to be, or my students to be. That really comes down to being compassionate, being kind, working hard, being curious, and wanting to always do your best,” she explained. “One of the things we always talked about was that we wanted to find people who would take care of our mom. We wanted to find good doctors we would trust with our mom, or our dad, or whoever our loved one is. We want to know that we are helping to develop you in such a way that you can be not just a great doctor but a great human being.”

Leading by Example: “Thrive, Don’t Just Survive”

In addition to what values and morals she implemented, we talked about how leading by example and positive affirmations were always a goal of hers. Dr. Solik recalled, “I would say this all the time to my residents, ‘I don't want you just to survive, I want you to thrive in residency,’ to affirm to them that they are capable of doing these hard things. That’s why they're here, because they are capable of doing these hard things. I think that being able to message that, and not only message that but walk the walk and talk the talk and role model for them, was a really important part of my development as a leader.”

Why Marian: Returning to an Educational Focus

After such a positive career at St. Vincent, we talked about her motivation to transition to a professor position here at Marian.

“Being in a space that’s very educationally focused, an opportunity to teach and mentor has always appealed to me. So when the job opportunity came up, I wanted to take advantage of it,” she described, “I needed to make a pivot in some capacity, and if the Marian job hadn’t come around, I don't know where I’d be, but I really believe that I would be in a space with learners. I think that’s ultimately what it would be, regardless, if I were practicing clinically or not. If I were full-time teaching or not, I would be with learners because that is the space I thrive in. Being able to mentor, develop, challenge, all those things, that is what my aura is, and that is the way I feel like I can contribute to my community.”

Looking Ahead

It is clearly apparent how passionate Dr. Solik is about her new role here at MU-WCOM. I feel lucky to have someone who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and hard-working to help guide us through our educational journey. In part two, we will discuss her goals as a professor and a mentor. 

About the Author

Ali Orme is a second-year student at the Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is from Carmel, Indiana, and has an interest in internal medicine and preventative care. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, attending sporting events, reading, and attending yoga classes in her free time.

About Franc Notes

Discover the voices of Marian University's health professions students through "Franc Notes", a vibrant, student-led blog that embodies our Franciscan commitment to community, reflection, and compassionate service. Inspired by the rhythm of "SOAP notes," it features weekly insights—from "DO Diaries" interviews with physicians to summer reflections and program spotlights—fostering collaboration across disciplines."