News

McLaren Northern Michigan, part of statewide McLaren Health Care, has appointed John Kennedy, MD, MHA, as Chief Medical Officer of the 202-bed regional health care provider. Effective March 11, Dr. Kennedy assumes the role made available upon the retirement of Dr. Andrew McDonagh. Dr. Kennedy brings more than 20 years of experience leading medical staffs, overseeing an organization’s clinical quality and environment of safe patient care. A psychiatrist by education and training, he is also positioned to...

McLaren Northern Michigan, part of McLaren Health Care and northern Michigan’s leading regional health care provider, has earned a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This highest achievable rating signifies the exceptional level of quality and safe care provided within the hospital and through its outpatient facilities located throughout northern Michigan. Across the country, 483 hospitals earned a 5-star CMS rating, representing 10.4 percent of all US hospitals, pl...

McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation honored Karen DenBesten, MD; Steve Eibling, and Moon Seagren with the Jack Clark Philanthropy and Service Award at a celebration July 19. The award was presented by Elise Fisher, Chair of the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation Board of Trustees. “Traditionally the Jack Clark Award is only given to one person each year,” said Fisher. “But in 2021, we decided there were several individuals we wanted to honor. Each of them has made an incredible impact on McLaren North...

Thanks to a generous gift from Robert W. Considine, McLaren Northern Michigan Interventional cardiologist, Harry Colfer, MD, made history in late December 2020, when he became the first physician in the Midwest to perform back-to-back robotic procedures treating STEMI heart attacks using the CorPath Vascular Robotic System. The most deadly type of heart attack is the ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). A STEMI occurs when a coronary artery becomes completely blocked and a large portion of the musc...

Liz Horrom and her husband Ken began supporting McLaren Northern Michigan many years ago when they were both nurses at the hospital. After serving as a nurse and nurse manager in various departments—including the cardiovascular unit—Liz was surprised to find herself here as a patient. Liz came down with severe stomach issues, but never imagined she could be having a heart attack. “I’m very active and usually never stop moving all day long,” said Liz, “so I was surprised.” She came to the Emergency Depar...

Our hospital has long been known for its heart program. Since the early days of the Burns Clinic, northern Michigan has been a place where cardiovascular patients could count on highly-trained medical professionals, cutting-edge technology, and compassionate, state-of-the-art care. Throughout our history, your gifts to the Foundation have helped build the heart and vascular program at McLaren Northern Michigan into one of the best in the nation. For the fourth year in a row, and the fifth time overall, ...

Virginia "Jinny" McCoy is a second-generation hospital benefactor. She continued her family's legacy of support with her first gift more than 40 years ago, and she has made plans to continue this tradition even after she is gone. Her bequest will help us provide exceptional care not only for generations of her own family, but for all community members, whether they call McLaren Northern Michigan "home" in the summer like she does or live here year-round.  "I'm not only investing in the hospital's f...

McLaren Northern Michigan is dedicating and naming its north pavilion entrance in honor of Martin and Lisa Sutter. The dedication is being made in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Sutter for their generous support of McLaren Northern Michigan and the Building the Future of Health Care project that will add 92 new private patient rooms and a state-of-the-art surgical center. The new wing is scheduled to open next summer. “Northern Michigan is a magical place made even more special by the exceptional care offered at ...

Petoskey, Mich. – July 20, 2020 McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation honored H. Gunner Deery, II, MD, Infectious Disease specialist and hospital board member, with the Jack Clark Philanthropy and Service Award in a special and unique celebration at his home on Walloon Lake. While social distancing prohibited the annual award from being presented in front of a large audience, Dr. Deery, a renowned epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist, appreciated the small gathering that included his family. ...

In 1992, McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation was notified that Ron and Bettie Fenton had planned for a gift to benefit the hospital in their will. Ron passed away in 1997, and Bettie followed in 2016 at the age of 99. Just a few weeks ago, we were notified that their gift is forthcoming. Bettie and Ron certainly never could have guessed how impactful their gift would be. They couldn’t have predicted that their commitment 28 years ago would be received at a time when a global pandemic has had such a dev...