News

Mrs. Kelly Pletzke's 6th – through 8th -grade science students at Bay City Academy created 125 care packs for McLaren nurses and 6th grade delivered them today. This delivery marks their 5th year, which started after the COVID-19 outbreak. The project began after their superintendent was admitted to McLaren with complications from COVID in 2021, nearly taking her life. After recovery, she expressed her gratitude to the nurses who provided care. Mrs. Pletzke said, “She and the students could never fully ...

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and the second most common cancer for both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society. What’s especially troubling is that it is often not diagnosed until it’s already advanced. That’s why early detection through screening is so important. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn about your risks, understand the importance of screening, and take steps to protect your health or encourage...

From the patients served by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Institute to the businesses and organizations that Karmanos patients support, Karmanos has launched a new brand campaign. Michigan residents will be immersed in the stories of Karmanos cancer survivors, who share their journeys at staple businesses in the community, providing new imagery, radio spots, billboards, print, and digital advertisements. Six stories are presented in the latest phase of this marketing campaign. Patients, a physician and staff...

Angela Gushow, RN, OCN, oncology nurse at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Bay Region and Auburn resident, has been caring for cancer patients throughout her entire career – more than 22 years, to be exact. She is an oncology-certified nurse and participates in a train-the-trainer program throughout McLaren Health Care to ensure that the same standard of oncology care is consistently delivered across the system for every patient. However, it is her firsthand experience as a breast cancer survivor wh...

McLaren Bay Region, part of statewide McLaren Health Care and the Great Lakes Bay Region’s leading health care provider, is set to break ground on a $53.6 million renovation of its West Campus site, resulting in McLaren Bay West, a multispecialty medical campus to include frequently used care services and feature a freestanding emergency department. Located off East Midland Road between 2 Mile Road and North Euclid Avenue on the site of the former McLaren Bay Special Care, construction is scheduled to b...

McLaren Health Care, the multistate, 12-hospital health care system, has named Angie Long, DNP, MSN/MBA/HC, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, its system-level Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, effective Oct. 6, 2025. Dr. Long assumes the role made available upon the departure of Jennifer Montgomery, McLaren Health Care’s inaugural CNO. Dr. Long returns to McLaren after having previously served as CNO at McLaren St. Luke’s, where her leadership led to the hospital’s improved clinical quality, safety outc...

Early detection saves lives—and when it comes to breast cancer, getting screened regularly is one of the most important steps women can take. Karmanos Cancer Institute and McLaren Health Care recommend that women of average risk begin receiving annual mammograms at age 40. For those at higher risk, screening may need to start even earlier. But mammograms are just one part of the picture. Understanding breast cancer risk factors, recognizing early warning signs, and staying ...

Ovarian cancer can be a difficult cancer to diagnose in the early stages because symptoms usually aren’t noticeable for women until the disease has progressed.  According to the American Cancer Society, more than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the U.S. The good news? There are steps you can take to understand your risk better—and possibly lower it. Start with Family History One of the most important things you can do is learn about your family’s health history. If your ...

Family Birthing Centers at several McLaren Health Care hospitals have earned advanced Maternal Levels of Care verifications from The Joint Commission, an achievement and sign of those locations’ commitment to providing a capable and safe environment and enhance outcomes for the patient and the child. Family Birthing Centers at McLaren Flint, McLaren Bay Region (Bay City), and McLaren Greater Lansing have all earned Level II verification, and McLaren Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant) earned Level I. Mate...

Among American men, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death after lung cancer. While early detection can make a significant difference, the decision to begin screening isn’t always straightforward and should involve a conversation with your doctor. Screening tests can help detect prostate cancer in its early stages, often before any symptoms appear. However, these tests are not designed to diagnose cancer on their own. If screening resul...