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After weeks of indulging in holiday foods, drinks, and festivities, most people make New Year’s resolutions to join a gym, start a diet, or get healthy. However, getting healthy is more than just eating well and exercising. Here are five doctor-approved ways you can improve your health this year outside of diet and exercise: Drink enough water In a world full of Starbucks runs and specialty drinks, switching to water significantly helps weight loss by reducing calorie intake (replacing sugary drinks), m...

Karmanos Cancer Hospital, part of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care in 2026 by the Women’s Choice Award ® , America’s trusted referral source for the best in health care. This recognition places Karmanos among the top-performing hospitals nationwide, ranking it in the top 2% of over 4,600 U.S. hospitals that offer cancer care services. This is the 13 th consecutive year Karmanos has been recognized by the Women’s Choice Award®...

David Penski, registrar in the patient access department at McLaren Greater Lansing , was honored with the BEE Award. The BEE Award , which stands for “Be Extraordinary Every day,” recognizes health care team members who made an extraordinary difference in a patient’s care or overall experience. The nomination, submitted by a coworker, reads as follows: “Many times, Dave has come up to my department if there are any issues regarding registration. I have seen him go above and beyond to help patients and ...

The McLaren Greater Lansing Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) is actively reshaping the landscape of local health care. This group of remarkable women is making a tangible difference through their collective giving, compassion, and dedication. The WGC is an impactful initiative facilitated through the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation . It stands as a powerful testament to the strength of unity, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to providing the best possible community health care for the Lansing region...

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 s...

McLaren Central Michigan has again recognized a deserving nurse with a Daisy Award, a nationwide program to honor outstanding nurses. Labor and delivery nurse Angela VanBuren, RN, is the hospital’s latest recipient. “The DAISY Award is a meaningful reminder of the courage, compassion, and dedication nurses bring to their patients each and every day,” said Robert David, McLaren Central Michigan President and CEO. “It is our privilege to honor Angela for her exceptional actions, and to recognize all nurse...

Your genes play a meaningful role in your health—shaping everything from your physical features to your risk for certain medical conditions, including cancer. While most cancers are not inherited, about 5% to 10% of cases can be linked to hereditary factors. If cancer has touched your family, learning more about your genetic risk can be an important step toward protecting your future. There is a lot of information online about genetics and cancer, and trying to sort through it by yourself can feel overw...