News

The Karmanos Cancer Network and the McLaren Center for Research and Innovation (MCRI) have officially partnered on their first collaborative research study spanning both oncology and non-oncology research sites. The project, Ask Questions About Clinical Trials (ASQ CT), marks a significant milestone in integrating research efforts across McLaren Health Care and reflects a shared commitment to improving patient-centered communication about clinical trials. Led by Lauren Hamel, Ph.D., MBA, co-leader of th...

Carri Martin found herself in a challenging situation. She didn’t have health insurance or a doctor for almost a decade. It was especially challenging because she needed to take her heart health seriously due to family history. Then, a routine eye exam in February 2024 changed everything. “They took my blood pressure, and it was elevated enough so that they told me it was serious and I should go see my doctor,” said Carri. “I started looking for someone to go to. I eventually found a primary care physic...

Congratulations to McLaren Flint’s January Outstanding Employee of the Month, Karlee Schmoak. Karlee is a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) in the OR. Her colleagues admire her attitude and helpfulness. “Karlee is the most positive ray of sunshine and always in the best mood,” said her nominator. “She does outstanding work and is always willing to lend a helping hand. We need more Karlees in this world.”  

During a routine visit, Jack Grossnickle’s dentist discovered a lump on the roof of Jack’s mouth. He referred Jack to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. “I also had a plugged-up nose, and it turned out that was because the lump my dentist found was pressing on a polyp in my nose,” said Jack. “The ENT said he wanted to do a biopsy to be on the safe side.” Jack had sinonasal adenocarcinoma, which is a rare form of cancer that develops in the nasal cavity and sinuses.   “It hadn’t spread, and ...

With the New Year here, getting a yearly checkup should be on your to-do list. It can sometimes feel overwhelming to schedule a doctor’s appointment, as you may not feel prepared, but it can be less stressful with a little pre-planning. It’s essential to provide your doctor with all the necessary information to ensure a comprehensive understanding of your health. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you get the most out of your next doctor’s appointment. “The best way to prepare for that appointme...

McLaren Flint has enhanced the cancer care options at Memorial Healthcare Cancer Center with an almost $6 million investment. This funding adds a new medical linear accelerator (LINAC) to the Owosso-based facility, an advanced technology commonly used in radiation therapy for treating cancer. The therapy unit — a Varian TrueBeam® — has been installed following five months of construction and is currently operational, making leading-edge cancer care available to Owosso and its surrounding communities. “M...

After 21 years in the Air Force, Herb Simpson retired.  He also started putting on weight. “I have always been a big, athletic guy,” Herb said. “I was accustomed to eating large quantities of food quickly when I was in the service- hurry up and get back to your job. When I retired, I kept that up, but I wasn’t as active. It caught up with me.” Over the next ten years, Herb’s weight inched up from 228 pounds at retirement to 314 pounds.  It was taking a huge toll on him. “My body was breaking d...

Thank you and congratulations to McLaren Flint's December Outstanding Employee of the Month, Dana McChristion. Dana is the front office coordinator at the Outpatient Wound Care specialty clinic. Her colleagues admire her work ethic, terrific attitude, and especially her empathy for patients, often going above and beyond to help them. "Dana goes out of her way to make sure patients are comfortable and feel taken care of," said her nominator. "One example- after recognizing the struggles a patient was hav...

For 61 years, there has been one constant in Jim Stillwell’s life- his wife. When she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Jim knew what he needed to do. “I took vows and I meant them,” Jim said. “I do not want my wife in a nursing home. It is my job to take care of her.” It has not always been easy, but Jim’s commitment has never wavered, even when his own health took a scary turn a year ago. “My oncologist in Lansing called it an aggressive form of prostate cancer. That scared me,” Jim said. The pl...

Breast cancer has always been an important topic of discussion in Rebecca Fritz’s family. “My grandma beat stage four breast cancer, and my mother was first diagnosed at 40,” Rebecca said. Not willing to take any chances, Rebecca started getting annual mammograms as recommended by the American Cancer Society , 10 years before the age her mother was diagnosed. “When I went into McLaren Imaging for my last regular mammogram, they had me fill out a questionnaire about risk factors,” Rebecca said. That ques...