MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich.—Dr. Carl Pesta, a general and bariatric surgeon with McLaren Macomb, has been named the 2019 Man of the Year by the Detroit Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The recognition is earned by the man and woman who raised the most money during a designated donation period in the name of a pair of local children who have survived the blood cancer.
Through multiple self-funded fundraising drives over the 10-week period, Dr. Pesta, medical director of the Bariatric Surgery Institute at McLaren Macomb, and his team raised more than $68,000 for the society to further its mission of improving the quality of life of the patients and families affected by blood cancer.
Having earned the title of Man of the Year, Dr. Pesta will represent the Detroit Chapter in its efforts to raise awareness and funds.
“I see this disease, which often affects children, and the devastation it can bring to the patient and the family,” he said. “I was inspired to participate in this program after seeing all the good the society does and its need of continued funding. Our team shares the society’s goal of to one day live in a world where there are no longer any blood cancers.”
The 10-week campaign included musical performances and open mic nights at local restaurants, spin bike events and business partnerships among other initiatives. Dr. Pesta was also supported by his business partners and generous staff.
Dr. Pesta was recognized as Man of the Year at a reception at Ford Field on Saturday, May 4 amongst the other 10 Man & Women of the Year candidates. The society recognizes the top fund raisers across the country as the Man and Woman of the Year.
About McLaren Macomb:
In January 2012, Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center became McLaren Macomb.
McLaren Macomb is a 288-bed acute care hospital located in Mount Clemens, Mich. More than 400 physicians and nearly 2,000 employees work at McLaren Macomb making it one of Macomb County’s top employers. McLaren Macomb provides a full range of services, including cancer and cardiovascular care. As Macomb County’s first verified trauma center, the hospital operates the busiest emergency department in Macomb County and is also an accredited chest pain center. McLaren Macomb has a rich history of providing high quality, compassionate health care and holds a strong position in the community it serves. To learn more, visit mclaren.org/macomb or follow our blog mclaren.org/macombblog.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a fully integrated health network committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 490-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 620,000 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health and hospice providers, retail medical equipment showrooms, pharmacy services, and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of only 49 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. McLaren has 26,000 employees and more than 85,500 network providers. Its operations are housed in more than 350 facilities serving Michigan and Indiana.