Ken Massey has spent his career stepping up when communities needed him — as a paramedic, a scientist, an educator, and a longtime elected leader in Farmington Hills.
Before he was elected to anything, Ken was a paramedic responding to calls across Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Northville, and the surrounding area. He spent close to a decade in pre-hospital emergency care while finishing his education.
He went on to earn a PhD in cardiovascular physiology, work as a clinical scientist at Pfizer and in Michigan biotech, and serve on the Farmington Hills City Council for two decades — including as mayor from 2015 to 2019.
Through all of it, the through-line has been the same: service. Facts first. People first. Politics last.
Elected to City Council in 2003. Served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2006, 2010, and 2015. Elected Mayor in 2015 with 68% of the vote, re-elected unopposed in 2017. A record of practical, moderate, cross-aisle governance.
Nearly ten years as an advanced EMT / paramedic providing pre-hospital emergency care across Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Northville, and the surrounding region. Public safety from the ground up.
PhD in physiology from UT Southwestern. Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona. Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School. Pharmacology faculty at Wayne State University.
Nine years at Pfizer as an Associate Director in cardiovascular and inflammation research. Managing Director at MicroDose Life Sciences in Novi. Today, Senior Director of Venture Development at Wayne State University, helping translate research into jobs.
Co-founder and chair of Farmington SAFE, the Farmington Area Suicide Prevention Task Force. Board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Detroit / Ann Arbor Chapter. More than a decade of "Let's Talk About It."
After Ken and his wife Katherine lost their son Graham E. Smith to suicide, Ken helped start Farmington SAFE in 2010 — a community task force devoted to open conversation, awareness, and prevention. The Graham E. Smith Memorial Fund supports its work.
More than a decade later, that work continues across the Farmington area — community conversations, an annual softball tournament, education events, and outreach for anyone in crisis.
A snapshot of the work, the milestones, and the moments that have shaped Ken's approach to public service.
Biology and Chemistry.
Cardiovascular physiology research, working with Dr. Karen Burton.
Physiology fellowship investigating cardiac gap junction function.
Phase I–III cardiovascular and inflammation drug development.
Neighborhood-level advocacy across Farmington Hills.
Beginning two decades of elected service.
Chaired the committee in 2012.
Later served as Chairman of the Board, 2014–2016.
Suicide Awareness for Everyone — with Randy Bruce and Nancy Bates.
Technology commercialization and biotech translation.
Elected with 68% of the vote in 2015. Re-elected unopposed in 2017.
Continuing a career of service to the communities of District 8.
