News

McLaren Port Huron, part of statewide McLaren Health Care and organizer of the Festival of Trees holiday festivities, is set to continue another community holiday tradition when it opens its holiday train display on Dec. 4. A destination for many families during the season, the community is welcome to the hospital to experience the display firsthand. The train and its joyous display come courtesy of Dr. Percy McDonald, an ENT specialist with McLaren Port Huron, whose love of trains and models date back ...

With the holiday season upon us, many of us are already gathering for parties and celebrations with family, friends, and co-workers. Unfortunately, these gatherings usually fall within cold and flu season. Regardless of what the seasons may bring, it’s never a bad time to protect yourself and the people around you from germs and viruses. After all, we want to be spreading cheer during this time and not sickness. Morgan Miller, D.O. , in family medicine at McLaren Flint-Flushing Community Medical Center,...

Perjohan Persson, MD is one of three new general surgeons at McLaren Bay Region, expanding his practice from McLaren Central Michigan to add to an already robust McLaren Bay Region General Surgery team. We sat down with Dr. Persson to ask him a few questions about himself, and his path to the Great Lakes Bay Region: Q: Why did you choose a career in medicine? A: Simply put, I wanted to help people. I think that working in the field of medicine allows me to impact people’s lives for the better, and it is...

McLaren Central Michigan, part of McLaren Health Care and a 5-star rated hospital by CMS, has earned additional honors recognizing its maternity care for mothers giving birth. As a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care, the team at the McLaren Central Michigan Family Birthing Center has demonstrated “excellence” and “commitment to quality” when delivering newborns and provides “better overall patient satisfaction.” McLaren Central Michigan also earned a PLATINUM designation ...

If you have a loved one receiving cancer treatment during the holidays, they might spend long hours in clinics daily. Here are some great gift ideas you can give them this season that will be useful during treatment. Keep in mind that you don’t always have to buy a present. Thoughtful, low cost or priceless gifts are also incorporated below to help make your loved one’s day. Audiobook subscription If your loved one is a bookworm or a podcast fan, getting them an audiobook or podcast subscription is a go...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute welcomes Morhaf Al Achkar, M.D., Ph.D., MSCR, FAAFP, as the associate center director for Education. Dr. Al Achkar brings over 10 years of experience in education and teaching, research, and clinical family. He also brings valuable personal experience to his new role as a seven-year stage IV lung cancer survivor. “It has been a pleasure and an exciting transition moving from Seattle to Detroit to join the team here at Karmanos,” said Dr. Al Achkar. “I have begun...

Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood and oxygen to support the organs in the body. According to the Heart Failure Society of America , heart failure is a growing problem, with one major study estimating 960,000 new heart failure cases annually. The prognosis for someone diagnosed with heart failure can vary; however, people can expect a better life expectancy if the disease is properly managed and treated with medications and a healthy lifestyle. McLaren Greater Lansing is...

If you’re looking for someone who can quickly help you with your healthcare needs, a nurse practitioner could be the perfect fit. A nurse practitioner is a nurse with advanced education and training. Nurse practitioners start by becoming registered nurses, then earn graduate degrees and pass national board certification exams to be licensed by the state. “A nurse practitioner has to complete at least a master's level degree with an average of 600 clinical training hours,” said Christy Idle , a certified...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , along with cancer centers and other organizations across the nation, recognizes November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. As its name indicates, pancreatic cancer originates in the pancreas, an organ that sits behind the stomach. The pancreas aids in digestion and helps regulate blood sugar. About Pancreatic Cancer Exocrine cells make up the majority of the pancreas. When these cells grow out of control, adenocarcinoma of the pancreas occurs. Pancreatic a...

Ryan Fahy, DO is one of three new general surgeons at McLaren Bay Region, adding to an already robust McLaren Bay Region General Surgery team. We sat down with Dr. Fahy to ask him a few questions about himself, and his path to the Great Lakes Bay Region: Q: Why did you choose a career in medicine? A: From my earliest memories, I wanted to pursue medicine. My mother and father sparked my passion for the sciences and I gravitated toward anatomy and biology. It helped that those subjects came easily and na...